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Alfalfa Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
141 E Main StSte 190
Lexington, KY 40507
(859) 253-0014
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2 pm
Wed-Sat 5:30 pm - 9 pm
Sat-Sun 9 am - 2 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
44 reviews for Alfalfa Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"The Hoppin' John and the red beans and rice are top notch." In 6 reviews -
"...dish that I sunk my teeth into was the Eggs Benedict Arnold." In 4 reviews -
"Their Hoppin' John is one of my favorite dishes of any..." In 4 reviews
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44 reviews in English
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Review from Jane E.
Boston, MA
5/18/2012
What a gem of a place in the middle of Lexington. I did not think I would find a place with such history and ingredients in the middle of Lexington. The service is wonderful and the artsy interior makes you feel right at home.
The food is wonderful if not a bit bland. However, they make up for the blandness with enough hot sauce and condiments. I had the Hoppin John, which was a great hardy dish. I enjoyed it while at the restaurant, however, after a while it looses flavor and because it looks so healthy it is not appetizing later on.
I like the fact that the menu changes based on local ingredients and they make a point of showing the source of the meat and the vegetables. It is a great business to support for all the right reasons and for the delicious food! -
Review from Kirk H.
Frankfort, KY
5/14/2012
I have been going to Alfalfa for 25 years, and my wife used to work there. But I was disappointed with brunch today. The portions have been shrunken. We ordered 7 entrees for 6 people and still left hungry. And we are not big eaters!
My banana peach pancakes (3 for $5.95) looked like it came off the kids menu. The omelets were small. The cheese grits were really bad. Instant grits, cooked to the consistency of drywall mud, with cheese sprinkled on top, is not "cheese grits!" The red beans and rice ws delicious as usual, but again, portion size has been reduced.
The food tasted good, and service was better than usual, but Alfalfa was a dissappointment today. -
Review from Jeremiah R.
Dallas, TX
3/23/2012
Traveling through Lexington, and desiring Sunday brunch, I tried Alfalfa. The serving size is just right; and the emphasis is on the quality of ingredients vs ambition of the menu.
My omelette of Feta, Olives, and Spinach was well prepared; the eggs were on the fluffy side, and the ingredients of a good quality. The toast was a whole grain, higher quality sliced bread (although a little too toasted), and the alfalfa fries were actually red potatoes cooked, until somewhat mushy, with onions and celery. These were served with a small side of baby greens.
As you can tell, this isn't greasy at all. Hence; you don't feel weighed down. -
Review from John H.
Lexington, KY
5/17/2012
The food is actually pretty good, however we waited close to 45 minutes for our food. Server went about 30 minutes without even touching the table or checking on us. For a restaurant that seats under 100 people, that's inexcusable. Had to rush my meal to get to work. Don't recommend unless you're willing to wait a good amount of time.
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Review from Emily D.
Lexington, KY
4/15/2012
Alfalfa's is lovely. Don't expect to be seated immediately after arrival, especially if you're there for the weekend breakfast/brunch, but the wait is worth it. Normally you wait for a table next door in the Lexington Art Gallery, where you're free to stroll through and check out the current exhibit while sipping some free coffee (all free trade, organic, and locally roasted).
The restaurant itself is cute. Big windows with stained glass at the front, a huge exposed brick wall, high ceilings, fresh flowers, mismatched coffee mugs and utensils. It's charming, though I would not suggest it for larger groups (6+) because the seating is fairly limited.
The food is delicious, with a focus on local/seasonal Kentucky produce. If you ask, the source of most of the ingredients is available. They usually have a quiche and omelet special on the weekends with ingredients from the Lexington Farmers' Market, which is ~200 yards down the road. This time around, I had the day's quiche with Alfafries (a sort of hashbrown-homefries mixture), and it was delicious.
The meals are pretty light. Expect to leave satisfied, but not stuffed. It's not hangover food. -
Review from Ian H.
Boulder, CO
4/19/2012
The wait was excessively long on a weekend and the food was bland, bland, bland. The service was good and our waitress tried amend the experience by offering me a different side, which came out bland as well. She suggested that I use some hot sauce. Throw some herbs and spices in the dishes!
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Review from Sam L.
2/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had their quiche of the day and a delicious cup of black coffee. It was a nice little breakfast spot, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Lexington!
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Review from Kristen W.
Louisville, KY
8/9/2011
One of my favorite brunch places; I try to go every time I'm in Lexington.
My standard order is the Eggs Benedict Arnold (eggs benedict with country ham and avocado), but I've tried almost everything on the menu, and many specials and have never been disappointed with a meal.
I've only been for dinner once, but it was great as well, and we even considered having them cater our wedding!Listed in: LexLove
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Review from Gade M.
Lexington, KY
2/11/2012
The food's ok and the decor is fun. Breakfast is the time to go however expect to wait for a long time (sometimes upwards of and hour or two) on the weekends. Parking is sometimes a problem as it is downtown Lexington and street parking is hard to come by and garage parking is pay per hour and a few blocks away. Other wise good place to eat.
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Review from Mary M.
Lexington, KY
3/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Popped in on my lunch break this afternoon and was very disappointed. I was by myself and in a hurry since I only have 30 min. After sitting for over 5 min, I was greeted with an "I'll be right back". Then was asked if I knew what I wanted. No friendly salutation or mention of specials, which I am aware are on a chalkboard, but was out of my sight. I guess I could have gotten up, but didn't want to be missed when the server came back. So I ordered a BLT with a side of fruit. My work is very close, so I thought I would have ample time for a "lunch place" to provide lunch for me (and other busy professionals who work near by). Unfortunately, my meal came with 10 min to gulp it down, pay, and get back to work. I actually pulled out my cash before even receiving anything other than tea. Oh, I forgot to mention, I was brought the wrong side within a few minutes of ordering which was taken back. When I finally got my sandwich, there was maybe 2 pieces of bacon (not that I need a pound of bacon, but it IS the star of the sandwich, not the L or the T)! And, there was NO MAYO! I noticed on the menu, one of the sandwiches mentions asking for mayo or mustard, but I assumed a BLT would come with mayo as a standard. The server could have mentioned that to me or offered some; I'm sure I'm not the only one who likes mayo on a BLT. I ordered it on wheat bread which was SO toasted, the roof of my mouth STILL hurts! And the side of fruit was LITERALLY 5 red grapes, 3 slices of green apple which were about 1/8", 2 slices of orange which were about 1/2", and ONE, yes ONE slice of banana! I'm not exaggerating!! The iced tea was fine, it was just plain unsweetened, so you really can't mess that up. This is the 2nd time I have eaten here (the first was breakfast which everyone seems to think is better, and its been too long to review, but I do remember a long wait, cold eggs and a dining companion who agreed that we wouldn't return). I tried again, but was once again very disappointed. I can honestly say, it was the worst BLT I have ever eaten. As I understand, they cater to many vegetarians, so maybe this review is null and void for those patrons, but for carnivores like me, a bad BLT really speaks volumes!!
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Review from David B.
Atlanta, GA
11/10/2011
I was surprised that $30 for a single meal got me such mediocre food. The hummus was dry and the combination of flavors in the entree was confusing. If the food ever steps up to their level of service there is hope however. Such nice people.
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Review from David Z.
10/25/2010
On our way to the Red River Gorge for rock climbing, my friends and I stopped in Lexington for dinner. We yelped the area for recommendations, and found Alfalfa. It was awesome!
I had the meatloaf, which came with my choice of several tasty sides. I chose the pumpkin cornbread, which turned out to be a huge hunk of delicious corny goodness. The meatloaf was also very good.
Negs: The salad (also complimentary with any entree) was a little disappointing, and the way they serve pre-meal bread (a boring slice of wheat sandwich bread on a small plate) was quite strange. It's also a tad pricey ($15), but fully worth it.
Really nice, cozy ambiance, too. -
Review from P K.
Atlanta, GA
8/30/2011
Don't bother. I have NO idea why this place gets the good reviews it gets. I notice a lot of the glowing reviews are for breakfast and maybe that is when to go, but absolutely don't bother for dinner. First of all the waitress couldn't be bothered. Most of the time she spent sitting by the cash register looking at her phone. The food was over seasoned yet tasteless at the same time. The fried green tomatoes were THE worst I have every had, and I have eaten fried green tomatoes at a lot of places. The quiche my friend had was barely edible. The only good thing we had were the falafals. Beyond that I would never consider eating here again nor would I advise anyone to eat here.
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Review from Adam H.
11/6/2010
It is often a rarity that I find myself awake before 9am on a Saturday. There are no longer good cartoons on that early, so what's the point? If you are in Lexington and are awake during the am breakfast hours then check out Alfalfa.
This is a very popular weekend morning place, and judging from the reviews it is pretty hopping during other times of the day. I have only been there during breakfast and each time the place was jumping. Since there were only two of us we didn't have to wait long, if you have a larger group I would suggest getting there early or possibly phoning ahead. If you don't mind the wait you can wait in the atrium like hallway next door and drink coffee.
Lets just say that there is a reason that people congregate to this place. The most recent dish that I sunk my teeth into was the Eggs Benedict Arnold. I am not going to lie, I was a tad nervous about ordering a dish named after the treasonous villain who almost surrendered West Point to the British, however, this was one of the better breakfast dishes that I ever had. It consisted of pouched eggs, toast, avocado, city ham (basic ham and not as salty as country ham) and some of the best tomatoes that I have ever had. The tomatoes were so good that they gave off a cool fresh minty taste that stayed with you with each bite, and I mean every bite with or without a tomato. I literally consumed every bite of this delicious dish and even consider licking the plate, but I think that would have been a little too much.
The cons are the tea and price. My tea cost 1.50 for a skimpy tea bag and hot water. Instead order the cinnamon coffee. My girlfriend is a coffee snob and she loved it. In addition they gave her a free to go cup. In regards to the price be prepared to drop anywhere from 10-15 per person, which for what I had was extremely reasonable. I however cannot afford to eat there everyday and am a little bit envious. When my disposable income increases then I will update it to five stars.
Again if you are in Lexington and want a great breakfast then head over to Alfalfa. -
Review from Jess S.
Lexington-Fayette, KY
6/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Alfalfa's opens at 9 and was packed at 9:15 The Cinnamon Swirl French Toast Special was awesome!! I had great service and great atmosphere for a wonderful breakfast.
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Review from Jeff R.
Lexington, KY
9/11/2011
I have no idea why serving eggs on the weekend translates into long waits, but it does, and Alfalfa is yet another place you wait in line for eggs. You have to ask yourself: does anybody do eggs so well that it's worth an hour wait? No. But we wait. I've only done a weekend breakfast, and it was good. We see them buying their goods down the street at the farmers market. Still haven't tried dinner yet.
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Review from Laura G.
6/2/2009
This place was actually recommended to us from a gal who served us brunch at another restaurant in town.
One thing I have to say that I love about Lexington is that you can eat so well for so cheap! I had eggs, fries, juice, coffee, and a short stack and it was about 13 bucks. My bro had the breakfast burrito which looked really yummy and my friend got the buckwheat pancake sandwich which we were all amazed that he even got halfway through haha. The cinnamon and blueberry pancakes were a hit but the buttermilk ones missed the mark, they were heavy and chewy so if you want a pancake get adventurous and try one with a flavor! -
Review from Adam A.
Brooklyn, NY
4/29/2007
It's humble, friendly, and affordable. The food is reliably great. I have to say I used to wash dishes here, but I have been enjoying Alfalfa for years and being an employee only strengthened my love for this restaurant.
Staples are the Avocado Grill, Hoppin John, and Red Beans and Rice, and they're all tasty and hearty. They have seasonal menus that are imaginative and appropriate, usually consisting of 7 or 8 entrees. Brunch is always packed because of the great pancakes and homemade syrups and the popular omlettes.
Most entrees come with a side (I recommend taking advantage of the specials), wheat bread, and a salad or soup. The soups are usually good but nothing beats a cabbage salad with miso. -
Review from Julie F.
West Liberty, KY
10/13/2011
In try to hit this place up anytime I spend a weekend in Lex! My favorite brunch but getting there before 10am is optimal for quick seating. If you arrive later, be prepared to wait, but for a good reason. At least you get free coffee while you wait!!
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Review from L T.
Starkville, MS
8/26/2010
We ate here fairly often since it serves up good local vegetarian and meat friendly dishes, and we've never been disappointed. My favorite time to go here is breakfast, because they have a great breakfast menu (recommend the Eggs Benedict Arnold), and you can sit and enjoy a coffee next door while you're waiting for a table.
Tip for out-of-towners - if you're looking for parking, you can park right across the street in the police annex garage for free on the weekends and weekdays after 6.Listed in: Vegging Out
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Review from Shal J.
San Francisco, CA
7/29/2007
This was one of the only places in downtown Lexington that had a line for Sunday Brunch. We all know that's a good sign, so we took our place in the queue.
There are lots of veg options, which is rare in this town, so that alone made it worth it.
However, do not eat here if you are in any kind of a rush or have some place to be after you eat. There will likely be a wait for a table (I believe you can call ahead to have your name put down - we did that for our very large group). Things are very slow-paced here, and no one really cares if you're in a rush. Two of us tried to order just before we sat down, to get things rolling (had a flight to catch): "uh, I dunnoooooo". Ok. We sit down. Can we order? "uhhhhhhhhhhh..." Finally, a young man who appeared to be on top of things took over, took our order and things were moving.
The breakfast burrito was great - it's actually 2 large soft tacos, but whatever. I added onions and mushrooms. The onions were large pieces that had barely been cooked, but the mushrooms added nice flavor. I recommend it.
The options for good food in downtown Lex are limited, so I can see why this place does well. Bring a crossword puzzle or someone with a lot of stories. -
Review from Sean S.
Oakland, CA
12/26/2007
It's as if a Bay Area counter order restaurant was lifted whole cloth off Oakland's College Avenue or SF's Haight Street such was the relaxed, vegetable oriented vibe of this venue in the not ironically said "thriving downtown". Parking is this neighborhood after dark reminded me of the Bay Area hotspots as well, thankfully the pricing on the food nor the garage were of comparable costs, this place was inexpensive.
The food choices for this vegetarian were thankfully numerous. Sadly I can't say the tastiness or crispness was there but it gets an A for effort. -
Review from Sarah C.
6/5/2009
Going to Alfalfa's for the first time I had no previous notion besides they had "great red beans and rice" and "pretty awesome wheat pancakes". Now having had the pleasure of experiencing it for myself I can honestly attest that it is a unique dining experience. The name suggests organic, free trade, and wheat grass, which I am sure are all true and can be found there; however, my dining experience there left me completely satisfied.
The restaurant is located off of Main St. in downtown Lexington, across from the Lexington Public Library Downtown Branch. Parking is free after 5:00 p.m. in the Annex garage next to the County Clerk's office. Upon entering the restaurant for the first thing that I noticed was the laid back atmosphere. The exposed brick walls covered in local photographer's pieces added to the overall hippie vibe. The wait staff and service was excellent. The dinner menu was based upon Creole dishes and full vibrant healthy meals. The food was very good. Make sure to check out the specials on the chalk boards when you walk in, they have some interesting dishes on there as well. I would definitely recommend going again if not for dinner than for breakfast! -
Review from Sarah B.
San Francisco, CA
5/8/2007
I was visiting from out of town but I got lucky in Kentucky , going to a place, with a delish breakfast.
First of all order the Cinnamon coffee, it's an excellent way to get your caffeine fix.
Next order the pancake sandwich: 1 egg , 2 blueberry buckwheat pancakes, and your choice of meat, I got it w/ country ham b/c the waiter told me it was better than 'city' ham, and it was excellent.
Seriously good. Very affordable. -
Review from Lucy U.
New York, NY
7/6/2011
Finally tried Alfalfa and love it! Every time I visit my parents in Lexington, I am on the search for good food and especially for brunch. This place has great coffee, pancakes, oatmeal and vegan dishes. Their baked goods are delicious! Lexington seems to lack on quality brunch places, but this place is by far the best and reminded me of an NYC brunch. I will definitely be back on my next visit to KY.
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Review from adam C.
Lexington, KY
9/3/2011
I really have no idea why this place is so popular. Most of the dishes are very haphazard in design (i.e. the egg and avocado sandwich), or else just aren't executed well at all (red beans and rice/hoppin john - both completely tasteless and usually cold). I've probably eaten there 7 or 8 times in the past year because everyone at work likes it, and every time I've left completely underwhelmed. The only dish that is decent is the tomato bisque. There are much better options downtown than this.
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Review from J D.
Lexington, KY
12/9/2009 1 photo
"Boring and Bland.."
- I admit it was a couple years ago when i ate here last.. But the Special tomato bisque tasted like it came out of a cold soup can. The Hummus tasted like a cheap off the shelf variety. I know w few stores in town that have off the shelf hummus that is quite appealing actually though..
Will try again, but the service was very bland as well.. If you want good food.. then reread the name i just typed and figure it out.. You may like this place.. If you do can you please tell me what you ordered and bring me a bite.. -
Review from Sean B.
New London, CT
11/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
Good, but not great, breakfast or brunch place in downtown Lexington.
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Review from Nilsen S.
Sunnyside, NY
3/3/2011
My girlfriend and I had a thoroughly lackluster experience here. It started off well enough. The restaurant is joined with an art center so we were able to browse the gallery while we waited for our table. Once we were seated however, the experience went downhill. We had gone to Alfalfa with empty stomachs and were pretty hungry. we began to get a bit confused as multiple patrons who had been seated before us were getting their meals and ours had not been brought out. After waiting a half an hour, our waitress informed us that one of our meals has "slipped through the cracks" and that it would be out shortly. Another ten minutes later our food arrived and was cold. The hollandaise sauce on my eggs Benedict had formed a skin and started to congeal in a very unpleasant way and the bread it was served on was thoroughly soggy. It was a weekend morning and quite busy, yet I still felt like our server was rather short with us the whole meal. On the way out the door she dropped two extremely stale cookies on the table to compensate for our wait. needless to say, this gesture did not win me over.
The really unfortunate part of this story is that Alfalfa seemed like the type of place that I would usually like. They use high quality ingredients and have a pretty decent menu. They even serve real maple syrup which is nearly impossible to find in the region. I would like to hope that my experience is a deviation from the norm here, but I am compelled to rate this restaurant on the one rather unpleasant experience I had here. -
Review from AM M.
Lexington, KY
10/7/2011
In a city which seems to thrive on meat and junk food, Alfalfa is a refreshing option. Greatly appreciated the whole wheat bread to begin the meal. The salad was fresh, although could have been chopped more into bite-sized pieces. Chicken sandwich was bland but juicy. I was looking forward to the quiche, but was disappointed. The bites with roasted red pepper were decent, but the rest seemed like a scrambled egg loaf with very little flavor. The crust left much to be desired as it was somewhat soggy and the bottom was as difficult to cut as plastic wrap. The iced tea was tasty and refreshing. We went here on a Saturday evening after the Woodland art festival around 6pm. We were seated immediately and the environment was clean, casual and relaxed. We waited several minutes until a waitress greeted us and took our drink order although after that everything was very timely. Everything was reasonably priced, especially with the bread and salad which accompanied the meal. This was one we had been aiming to try. Glad we did, probably won't be first choice in future but might go back if downtown and in the mood for fresh and healthy.
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Review from Denika C.
Chicago, IL
11/7/2009
bohemian guys with unkempt hair tend to serve here.
they have really good food and it's a place a vegetarian
could meat up with a carnivorous friend for brunch or lunch.
nice staff. clean bathrooms.
candle light dining. brick walls.
a business that puts people above profit.
whenever i want to take a friend out to dinner, this is a place
that comes to mind always to suggest. decent prices.
if you are a parent, you could take your child out for
a meal without a hassle as they have a children's menu as well
. if you're on a tight budget as a university student, just
meet up with a friend or dating prospect for under $2.00 & forgo
the meal instead by
opting for a drink out. whether you like
organic soy milk or apple mango pomegranate
juice, they have something for everyone.
cheers! -
Review from Daniel R.
Los Angeles, CA
10/1/2010
When I lived in Lexington this was my go-to brunch spot. The vegetarian options are excellent and the specials are always excellent. The Hoppin' John and the red beans and rice are top notch.
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Review from Miss T.
Cumberland Gap, TN
9/29/2010
My husband and I came in around 10am on a Saturday. Got seated right away. If it wasn't 10am on a Saturday I would have been tempted by the yummy looking baked goods at the counter including vegan blondies!
We both got spiced iced tea which was basically cold chai, very good. My husband ordered the Eggs Benedict Arnold. He said the Hollandaise sauce was very good. I ordered the Popeye omelet - 3 eggs (or egg beaters), fresh spinach, kalamata olives and feta cheese. Very good! I had my choice of potatoes or cheese grits and I went with the grits. They bring you an enormous amount covered in a mild white cheese. They were also good, and had a smokey flavor that I've never had with cheese grits before.
The only downside was our server. She took or drink order and then our food and that was it. She never came back to check on us. There were tables on either side of us she waited on but she just kind of bypassed us for the rest of the meal. It was odd.
Overall pretty good though, we'd definitely go back. I'll just cross my fingers for a different server! -
Review from Krissy R.
Arlington, VA
4/24/2010
I ate here with my husband when we decided to take an impromptu trip to Lexington one weekend. This was the first place we ate at while in town and saw it when we drove through town the night before on our way to our hotel. The service was great and the food was fresh and unique. I ordered an omelet with fruit and my husband ordered the red beans and rice and was in heaven. He also got a side of oatmeal and said the red beans and rice was the best he'd ever eaten. The open feel of the restaurant made it fun, and we sat by a wall of windows and had a perfect view of the sidewalk for people-watching. If we visited town again we would likely go back to Alfalfa.
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Review from Kristina P.
Lexington, KY
12/26/2008
If there's a vegetarian in your life, you should take them here! It's by far the best vegetarian place in the city. It isn't exactly my style, and the meat-based fare can be scarce, but the food is always fresh and fairly straightforwardly prepared. It's got a sort of hippie atmosphere and the live music can be of questionable quality. Parking can be difficult as it is in the middle of downtown, but if you know your way around the parking garages you can find a cheap spot to stow your car. The place is very clean. It's a change of pace for sure.
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Review from Lesley M.
Calhoun, KY
4/19/2010
One of my favorites. Great seasonal menu and the best red beans and rice you have ever tasted. They also serve a nice brunch.
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Review from David K.
Lexington, KY
5/16/2010
Best place to eat in Lexington and we have been going there for over 25 years. Very consistent, uses local produce and eggs, makes their own bread and has unique recipes for special events. Their brunch is a regular staple for us. Food is great and service is better with the owners regularly mixing with the diners. We love the Red Beans and Rice for dinner and the Blueberry Buckwheat griddle cakes and Tofu Burritos at brunch. Every meal has something interesting and delicious. Parking is convenient with street parking in front and free garage parking evenings and weekends right across the street at the municipal garage or the library.
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Review from Deepta G.
Lexington, KY
7/7/2010
good vegetarian and vegan options
has a good book collection for babies and adults alike -
Review from Christina R.
Louisville, KY
6/7/2010
Very cozy little place with good food and a relaxing atmosphere. I recommend not going here if you're in a hurry, but if you've got friends you enjoy and time to kill then stop in. I highly recommend the Chicken Talese and the Caribbean Jerk Pork Roast. The chai is excellent as is the cinnamon coffee.
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Review from Braxton H.
London, KY
5/7/2010
Good, interresting food. I've only been here for breakfast but 8 have always had a new experience. Great healthy, natural food.
