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Breeders’ Cup Travel Tips: Casual Eateries in Lexington

Lizzy Park
On October 12, 2015

Breeders’ Cup Travel Tips: Casual Eateries in Lexington– While Lexington, Kentucky, certainly offers some of the best fine dining, there are also plenty of casual places to experience great atmospheres with delicious food. During your stay in Lexington for the 2015 Breeders’ Cup, try some great local spots for casual dining.

A great inexpensive spot that is distinctive to Lexington to try during Breeders’ Cup week is Dad’s Favorites Cheese Spreads & Deli.
Photo: dadsfavorite.com

First up on the casual dining list during Breeders’ Cup week is Gumbo Ya Ya, a fast and casual Cajun creole flavor in a totally fun and relaxed New Orleans-inspired area. Of course, the gumbo is a must try, but there are also fun and different renderings like the maque choux and the chili cheese e’touffee. The prices are right, and the food is great. Gumbo Ya Ya even offers a large variety of vegetarian sauces to accommodate each one of their customers. Try the peanut sauce, the veggie pazole stew, or the spinach and mushroom e’touffee.

Next up on the list is BBQ. BBQ is a southern staple, and the Blue Door Smokehouse is a great venue offering pulled pork and brisket, tender meats with a smoky flavor. Blue Door Smokehouse also serves up some great classic homemade sides like creamy cole slaw, collard greens, potato salad, and especially flavorful ranch beans. Even their drinks provide a cool twist with offerings like Mexican Coke, Ale 8, Nesbitts Orange, and even a craft root beer. Save room for the delicious Blackberry Shortbread Bar or the Old School Chess Bar. The prices are good, and the atmosphere is casual, but the food is five-star quality.

Another great inexpensive spot that is distinctive to Lexington is Dad’s Favorites Cheese Spreads & Deli. Pick up some awesome homemade cheese spreads for affordable prices. or try out one of Dad’s Signature Hot Sandwiches. A specialty is Pimento Cheese, so try the smoky pimento BLT or the asiago pot roast. At about $6 per sandwich and only about $2-$5 extra to make it a combo, you can’t go wrong. It’s a great quick local spot.

For good homestyle food during Breeders’ Cup week, try Ramsey’s Diner. Taste favorites like buffalo fried chicken or lemon yogurt chicken breast, or for a typical diner food, try their hamburger or, for vegetarians, the zucchini burger. For real comfort food, try the open face pot roast sandwich paired with classic mashed potatoes and gravy. Another great side is the parmesan deep fried corn on the cob.

Finally, last but certainly not least, visit the Lexington Diner. This diner dishes out favorites like fish and chips and bourbon banh mi, along with plenty of specialty burgers. Try their great, fresh appetizers like their southern fried green tomatoes or their Kentucky nachos. The roasted garlic hummus is also pretty amazing and is served with flash fried tortillas and baby carrots.

You can’t go wrong with any of these five local casual dining eateries, and you will be sure to get a real taste of Lexington while visiting for the 2015 Breeders’ Cup!

The Breeders’ Cup will take place at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky on Oct. 30-31. The Breeders’ Cup Festival begins on Oct. 24, 2015.