2/7/2019

• Seated via Yelp Reservations

Cozy atmosphere. Warm & friendly staff. Exceptional wine list. Well prepared and seasoned food. The high barrell truss ceiling made it feel open and not at all the smaller size it is. Loud noise was certainly not an issue here...being able to talk to my dining partner without having to raise my voice tends to be a rarity these days.

We had the smoked salmon to start..with rye croutons, dill, a smoked oyster aioli and beautiful beet greens. For our entreés we went with the duck and Arctic char (and a side of the most delicious gratin style potatoes). Both were cooked to perfection. Everything complimented each other. We were stuffed but finished the meal with a scoop of citrus sorbet in a beautiful little pool of limoncello topped with what I believe was a salted orange slice.

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  Sorbet

  Sorbet
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  Smoked salmon

  Smoked salmon
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  Duck

  Duck
• See all photos from Ella B. for The Red Hen

5/10/2019

I am reposting my review of this place because it was removed stating it "did not include enough detail about my experience as a customer." Which is ridiculous because as of today, I've written nearly 300 without issues. This prompted me to look so into the real reason why it was taken down. It was brought to my attention that the original review may have been flagged or reported by someone or several someones to have it removed and I can only speculate as who would take a manipulative or vested interest in doing so. If my suspicions are correct, that only further disgusts my opinion of this less than mediocre establishment. Since they did not feel it was justly represented, I will gladly write more details including a thread on this very issue. I'm also going to report it to Yelp and let them know that automated moderators shouldn't be left at the discretion of unknowns to take down reviews. I'm going to bring awareness to this manipulative loophole.

As a business owner myself, I travel out of state several times a year for business trainings and provide customer support. I can only imagine the defensive behavior one has to display when you receive negative feedback. It should help you grow as an individual and build up personal and business development. On a business trip, this place was recommended by an associate so we it was decided to eat here. I ordered the lemon lavender martini and thought that was good but that's all I could savor. The food was mediocre and did not match the decor or the ambiance of the place. From the outside it looks like a Popeyes and the inside looks like a Texas Roadhouse with Michelin star prices. The owner must be delusional. The service was crap and it matched the taste of the food. We ordered the beef brisket and the smoked salmon which were both overpriced. Maybe our expectations were too high because it was bland and lacked in flavor.

There was a lot of joking around from the staff and some who looked like they hated their jobs and equally unprofessional. If you dislike working here, you have the freedom to find another one. Don't take your unfulfilling job description and take it out on your customers and expect a monetary tip. Since you feel entitled to a tip, I'll leave one for you here instead...don't feel so self-deserving because you brought me a plate from the kitchen. Low morals and arrogance displayed from management trickles down into your employees and it shows. I have no doubt this review is now more descriptive and reflective of your business.

4/19/2019

A little too pretentious for me. Snobby people, rushed service and unimpressive food are impossible not to mention as a very bad experience.
Not fine dining as I was told because the food is really not that great and the service can further be summarized as abrupt.
When I see a five star rating here I am disappointed because that leaves no room for the other establishments that are simply better to have a higher rating.
I would have given a three star for great service or great food making up for the other being sub par.
In this case, they were both sub par.

2/20/2019

I was visiting some friends in Lexington. They had made reservations and put down the ransom for seating. The place is small with only a few tables. I was expecting something interesting and I certainly got it. Unfortunately, it was not a good dining experience.

The food was extremely expensive for what I got. I am not into plate art. I want something to eat, not to take photos of. If you are going to give half of a child's plate and then charge an exorbitant amount for it, I at least expect to so wowed by the food that I don't notice the cost. I have eaten at some great places that have food art and attentive service. I really didn't get either here. To me, the quality and taste is what I would get from a cafeteria meal. It was dry with little flavor.

I like the farm-to-table concept of relying on local sources, however, when a Chef Boyardee type is doing the cooking it really doesn't matter if the garden is out back and the duck was swimming in a pond across the street. The one positive is it did look nice on the plate.

Maybe I am just not urbane enough to appreciate the nuances of "fine dining", but maybe I am smart to enough to point out when it just doesn't meet the hype. The people that took us raved about how good it was while my companion and I shot glances of disbelief at each other.

1/9/2019

What a great place!

We started with the smoked salmon appetizer. Delicious.

I had the pheasant entree, & it was wonderful, too. Rich & flavorful. Tom had the brisket & he was very pleased. Both entrees came with fresh local vegetables.

For dessert we shared a piece of lemon meringue pie. REALLY strong lemon flavor with no crust to worry about!

The setting was charming. It feels like it was once a church, but our waiter told us it was originally a bar.

The evening was perfect.

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  Smoked salmon

  Smoked salmon
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  Lemon meringue pie

  Lemon meringue pie
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  Pheasant entree

  Pheasant entree
• See all photos from Rodger S. for The Red Hen

12/10/2018

• Seated via Yelp Reservations
• 1 check-in

Unless you're a local, you'll probably visit the Red Hen for reasons other than finding just any old place for dinner. That aside, let me explain why you should eat here, and what to expect.

First off, you may need reservations - which will cost you $45 per person. This was necessitated by their RSVP system being abused, so no money in advance = no reservation. Fortunately this fee goes towards you dinner bill, and any excess deposit funds will be refunded back to you (although with tip, tax and drinks, you'll likely spend all of it).

The place is very small; maybe 6 or 7 tables, max about a dozen patrons. This is very much a farm-to-table joint that caters to foodies.

Because of this concept, no menus are published online. This menu changes constantly anyway, so published menus won't help a lot. But if you email them, they'll send you a copy of whatever is currently being served.

The people who are dropping 1 or 2 star reviews for the food probably never ate here, because my guest and I thought everything was excellent. Not only that, but the price point was very good - at least compared to fancier restaurants in Charlottesville or DC. And since it's such a tiny place, service also excelled.

Ignore politics and just have dinner!

4/24/2019

We have never been disappointed here! Always creative, locally sourced delicious food and cocktails. We love sitting at 'the bar ' overlooking the compact kitchen and chatting with the chef and sous chefs. It amazes me what they can create in that tiny space! Service is excellent from Darrin and Jake.

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  Spring coq au vin

  Spring coq au vin
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  Creative geniuses at work!

  Creative geniuses at work!
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  Blackened pork loin with goat cheese grits

  Blackened pork loin with goat cheese grits

1/7/2019

MY GENUINE REVIEW WAS REMOVED BY YELP FOR THE SECOND TIME

We've patronized The Red Hen several times over the time it's been situated in picturesque and historic Lexington, VA. We live maybe an hour away, which is the only reason we don't visit more often. All visits have exceeded our expectations of the dining experience.

Locally sourced food is important to us and we know we can dine here and not only have that, but a delicious and fun meal. We often order 'outside of the box' for our normal dining, which has been fun. We enjoy the wine list, as winos, but also love the custom crafted cocktails on their mixology list.

Leave the politics and those angry about what's happened here behind and come visit a wonderful place tucked in the VA Blue Ridge. Better call ahead or book a table on Yelp. Family and Graduation weekends fill quickly. Even when busy, the service is wonderful, another thing we appreciate quite a bit.

5/11/2019

Almost $100 for appetizer, ONE glass of wine and two main dishes.  Quite noisy.  Wait staff was clumsy and intrusive.  Limited menu selections - maybe 4 main dishes.  Reading other recent reviews, I'm in good company.  Previous review was removed likely because Red Hen chef has an inflated opinion of himself (note - little h).  If we ever visit DC again, will avoid this place and go to subway where I can actually see them make my meal.

3/20/2019

• Seated via Yelp Reservations

Loved the atmosphere here. I knew that there was some political controversies before I made my reservation. That was my main purpose for coming. I was on a work assignment in the area and wasn't leaving without dinning here. The food was outstanding as were the cocktails. Absolutely loved the lemon meringue!

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  Tonight's menu

  Tonight's menu
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  Lemon-lavender martini

  Lemon-lavender martini
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  Cheese board

  Cheese board
• See all photos from Selma S. for The Red Hen

1/19/2019

• Seated via Yelp Reservations

New visitor to Lexington. Red Hen was my sit down choice for the weekend. Excellent Markers Mark Old Fashioned; and the dregs looked bejeweled with tiny bits of cherry. Salmon starter and pasta Bolognese were remarkable.

The reason for my 3 hour trip was a bust due to weather, but the meal at Red Hen made my weekend.

Excellent service; intimate atmosphere.

12/21/2018

Made reservations for dinner on our way home from Blacksburg. The food is terrible - dry and tasteless. The service is abrupt. Absolutely no ambiance. The restroom was....I'll leave it there. Also unusual that they don't publish a menu - I typically read the menu prior to a meal - perhaps I would have been able to make a better choice. Even if they change the menu daily, they could post a sample.

6/19/2018 Updated review

• 1 check-in

A small quaint eatery with fabulously prepared meals from the farm. Good meal with excellent, friendly service. Good wine selection. Nice atmosphere with a small outdoor patio. Right downtown Lexington.
Love this place. Have been here several times. Not open on Mondays.
Chef prepares everything fresh with a lot of creativity.
Great service!  Rustic charm.

1/1/2019

I live in Lexington so I'm familiar with many restaurants in the surrounding area - including downtown Lex. Red Hen is known for farm to table cuisine. However, they recently added a few new additions to their menu and they are a hit: New appetizers and specials.

My cousin was in town last month so my daughter and I took her to Red Hen. First new change on the menu: Appetizers. We ordered a round each of jalapeño poppers, nachos, and mozzarella sticks. These new bar-style appetizers are a much needed change and well received. Our server was so kind. She stated diners also loved the new appetizers.

2nd new change to menu: Thursday-Friday-Saturday is Prime Rib special with au jus. No need to say more. Prime Rib with hand cut shoestring fries. Praise be to the menu Gods.

But I digress. Love the new changes, so I can't help saluting them. I had hamburger steak with mashed potatoes and gravy. DD - chef salad with feta cheese. We were there on Friday, so my cousin had the Prime Rib special well done to her specifications. She loved it. Again, need I say more?

Atmosphere is small, but cozy. A little crowded when they bring in the flat screen TV's for major NFL games, but very jovial. There isn't a sports bar in town, so I love they add this touch during important games. The staff often wears Kaepernick jerseys. Go Red Hen! Reminds me of the old Redwood restaurant up on the hill.

Downside: Need to pre pay and make reservations online. That part is tedious.

I like they are opening their doors to more people by expanding the menu. Will be back for Super Bowl when they bring the TV screens in with even new reiterations of favorite appetizers. Couldn't think of a favorite place to watch my most favored games. Fully loaded nachos?Get in 'ma belly ASAP. Seamless back and forth with fun sports-bar atmosphere and farm to table.

I adore the new changes at Red Hen and will be back in a few weeks. Server also stated Prime Rib special will be available for Valentines. Get on those reservations, lovers.

7/30/2018 Updated review

I've been told I'm a fake by a few. Asked to post a receipt.

I can understand the concern of a fake review. Some reviews are tossed, while others are kept. I also see general disdain for a positive review. It's a review folks. You can believe it or not.

So here's my receipt. Enjoy

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  The after dinner mint to rule them all. Housemade Dark Chocolate Truffle Ball coated in Chocolate Dust

  The after dinner mint to rule them all. Housemade Dark Chocolate Truffle Ball coated in Chocolate Dust
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  Bread pudding w/ Banana Vanilla Ice Cream and Shaved Almonds. Very good.

  Bread pudding w/ Banana Vanilla Ice Cream and Shaved Almonds. Very good.
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  Seared Pork Chop w/ Goat Cheese Grits. Glazed Carrot, Pearl Onion and Radish. Roasted Cauliflower. Sauteed Spinach. Fresh Tomato Sauce

  Seared Pork Chop w/ Goat Cheese Grits. Glazed Carrot, Pearl Onion and Radish. Roasted Cauliflower. Sauteed Spinach. Fresh Tomato Sauce
• See all photos from Brandon M. for The Red Hen

9/3/2018 Updated review

I have been to this restaurant a few times and every time the meal and service have been perfect!  The menu changes and everything is farm fresh! The chef is very creative and the food is excellent!

Review Update since the "sarah" incident. The place is booked for months in advance. Was difficult to get a reservation last week! The food is as excellent as ever! The service was also outstanding!

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• 
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• See all photos from Lee N. for The Red Hen

9/3/2018

Pro:  The food is actually quite a bit better than IHOP
Con:  The price point at this place is way above what would be considered a value.  
Summary:  The place seems to be spending so much time trying to convince guests that this is a high-end dining experience that they have no time left to actually provide a high-end experience.  The staff are roadside-diner quality, the food is no better than competing restaurants at half the price point, and the decor is homey, but cluttered (if I wanted to dine in a cluttered home, I would eat in my living room).  Recommend giving this one a pass.

2/24/2018

• 1 check-in

Unbelievable is one of the words that comes to mind when I think of The Red Hen, as well as delicious, modern and exclusive. This small restaurant is the hidden gem of Lexington with only 10 tables, and a new menu each day, so you know what you're getting is fresh!

We had called on Wednesday trying to get a table for that Saturday night, but they were already completely booked and placed us on a waitlist. On Friday night we called again hoping they had had a cancellation, and lucky for us they had an opening at 5:45 PM!

On Saturday, once we arrived to The Red Hen, we were seated quickly at a small table by the open kitchen. It was exciting to be able to see all the action happening in the kitchen while seated at our table.

We ordered the Smoked Salmon Terrine as a first course, and it was great! I had never had this dish before, but it was smoky and creamy and crunchy and left me wanting more! As for the second course, we both had the Chicken with Lemon Risotto. The ground chicken was mixed with chicken sausage which made it extremely savory and moist. The light citrusy risotto accompanied the chicken perfectly. This was probably one of the best dishes I have ever tried, and spent a whole week reminiscing the flavor.

We were full by the end, but just had to have dessert. My boyfriend ordered the Brownie and I had the Lemon Merengue (both delicious, but mine was better)!

We are already planning a new visit to Lexington, for the sole purpose of going to The Red Hen, and will make sure to make a reservation with more time in advance!

7/26/2018

Went to visit my cousin at VMI. My cousin told me he had been before and it's not that good but I wanted to try for myself. I went in with an open mind but that bubble burst as soon as I met the hostess. She didn't greet us but simply looked at us and we told her our name for reservation and she said it will be about 15 min. No smile at all. She looked very flustered. After about 10 min she saw us and told us our table was ready. No smile or anything. I got the impression she judged us from my cousins vmi shirt he had on. Idk??

Waiter was much nicer and got our drink orders. We ordered food and I had scallops. They were chewy but had a nice flavor. My cousin and aunt said their fish was very bland and too fishy. We (I) ended up drinking more than eating because the food was taking a while.

My aunt kept having to make us repeat what we were saying because it was so loud in there. There was a big group beside our table being very loud.

Took us about an hour and half once seated until we got our check. They were busy but that's excessive. My aunt wanted dessert but my cousin had to get back on campus.

I wouldn't go back. There are other little places around Lexington that are probably much more pleasant

2/15/2019

• Seated via Yelp Reservations

Absolutely one of the best meals I have ever had! Service was phenomenal! Food (presentation and taste) is incredible! Cozy and quiet atmosphere! Seriously a wonderful experience from the moment we arrived!!! We can't wait to come back!

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  Tuna

  Tuna
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  Red Hen Chocolate

  Red Hen Chocolate
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  Chocolate tart

  Chocolate tart
• See all photos from Kate O. for The Red Hen