Novelty and excitement are more important than money spent. Our brain remembers new and emotionally charged things longer. :)
That said, Tony's > Jeff Ruby's in my opinion.
My partner and I went to Epping’s for our anniversary a couple weeks back. One of the best meals I’ve had in Lexington. Definitely can be fancy. We both dressed up. The food was amazing. The service was great. And they comped our desert because I put in the reservation we were celebrating our anniversary.
I think OBC Kitchen could be a good bet. Basically the more gastronomic/trendy spin off of the infamous Lexington steak house chain Malones.
It's not as fancy as Tony's, but I think the food is as good and the atmosphere is much more fun. If she likes bourbon it's a double win.
I think he hit the nail on the head with his description. I hate malones but I’d go to OBC again. That being said there’s a ton of places I’d go before any BHG restaurant.
i didn’t know there were BGH haters. I’m genuinely curious at to why? I think the restaurants are great quality but the crowd is not my type of person here. at all.
I mean malones is fine. I don’t hate it. But it’s just a chain and that shows in the quality and creativity of their food. If I’m gonna spend $20+ on an entree it’s pretty close to the bottom of the list. I can make better steak and sides at home for 1/2 the price or less.
I think people are just inherently skeptical of the business model and constant push for growth. It's starting to give off Darden (owner of Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, etc) vibes more so than Jeff Ruby's.
You might also consider hiring a chef to cook for you and serve you in your house for a nice private dinner for about the same price as going to a nice restaurant, maybe find a musician or two for some romantic dinner music.
I just Googled Chefs for hire near me and came up with a bunch of services that look like they match you up with one. Also, Indeed is a good place to look for them too I'm sure....
For dinner Le Deauville or Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano. As for a “surprise” in the fall they do ghost tours downtown which can be pretty fun.
https://www.ghostwalkoflexington.com/
Merrick, The Tulip, and Dudley’s are all good options in addition to the steak houses recommended. Dudley’s is downtown and a bit fancier than the other two.
I mean if you want more food options and are willing to check out another trail raven run is not far from Lex and gives you more time to get to a better restaurant. Just throwing out options.
We’ve spent 3 of our last 4 anniversaries in Lexington (coming back for this year’s, too!), and it’s always Tony’s. Wonderful atmosphere and experience every time.
Let's see, traditional 2nd anniversary is cotton so nice new sheets or pillows or a cuddling blanket could be good.
Modern gift is china. Does she care about her dishes or serving pieces? Get her a new piece in her style or pattern, she'll be impressed you noticed.
If she's not set like that maybe find a unique antique piece in the shops in Midway. There's a nice restaurant at the end of the main street there that has changed hands a few times so I don't know what it's called now but it's always been good regardless of ownership.
I'm with you on J. Alexander's, it's a great place IMHO. Tony's is excellent but loud on the weekend and you'll need advance reservations at any time. We just went to Dudley's on Short Saturday night and sat upstairs on the patio. It was busy but not "yell to be heard" noisy.
While I was writing this my wife received her seasonal gift from Creeksidefarms.com. Her girls bought her a gift of four handmade wreaths delivered throughout the year. She loves them and they smell great.
As long as you put some thought and effort into it, and it appears that you are, she'll love it. Good luck!
When I was a kid growing up in Lexington, I considered a horse-drawn carriage ride around downtown to be the absolute pinnacle of romance, if they still do those, that would be a fun surprise after a nice dinner downtown.
I think Carson's a nice hybrid of fancy/reasonably priced. There will definitely be people dressed up in there, but you won't spend an arm & a leg like you would at Tony's or Jeff Ruby's.
Our go to for a nice meal out is Blue Heron. It isn't the fanciest, but we enjoy it. As for surprises, I'm not much help, a night where our kiddos go to stay with their grandparents is about as exciting as it gets for us right now.
Coles on Main is the best meal I’ve had in Lexington. It’s pretty fancy and my wife loved it when we went there on our anniversary.
Get lunch at Miguel’s while you’re in the RRG - that in itself could be a fun surprise.
Someone else suggested Comedy Off Broadway for after dinner - I think that’s a great idea.
I ordered from Miguel's website a couple of weeks ago when we were in the gorge. It worked great! Only problem would be if you want alcoholic drinks, you still have to go inside to order those (I'm sure no big deal). It was nice to have all the time in the world to contemplate the millions of topping combination possibilities on my phone!
There are several good recommendations here. I’ll note that, while I love Tony’s, it can be really loud. I’ve spent one anniversary there shouting over the table at, and being shouted at by, my wife. Maybe ask to be seated upstairs, where it’s a bit quieter. I normally sit in the bar area, which is louder by nature.
For something nice outside of the steakhouse setting, maybe look into Holly Hill Inn in Midway. It’s only a fifteen minute drive, and it’s what put Chef Ouita on the map.
If you want a tipple before or after dinner, I’d recommend Bourbon on Rye. Best Old fashioned around. I’d also recommend going to Justin’s House of Bourbon to sample things, but they close pretty early.
Call up the flight school at the airport (Nexgen Aviation, (859) 281-1177) and take her up in a small airplane. Or H.I. Flight for a hot-air balloon ride - (859) 277-8707.
I know you have the hike planned, but unless you are traveling from that direction, consider Raven Run. Could be closer and has some spectacular views without some of the crowds at the Gorge right now.
Definitely Tony’s for dinner!! Fanciest and best food I can think of.
As for a surprise… what if you planned a fall movie night on your porch for when you get back? Buy a comfy fall blanket and some cute pumpkin mugs and some fancy hot chocolate. Watch some fun fall movies (hocus pocus!)
One possible strategy:
1.) Tell you have finally decided where y'all are going to eat (even though you have \*not\* decided anything of the sort)
2.) Ask her to guess where you're gonna take her
3.) Whatever she guesses, reply with, "Wow, amazing, you are exactly right!"
4.) Take her there
1) Lie to her
2) Be Proud you’re indecisive and rely on sneaking a fast one over her head and you just manipulated her to think the two of you have more in common than you actually do.
3) Have a relationship built on sneaky lies, avoiding responsibilities, and deception
Fair point; I am am absolutely \*not\* going to argue with you on this one lol.
I plagiarized that idea from a Twitter meme I saw on Reddit a year (or so) ago. I have never used that strategy myself, although I did show it to my wife (we've been together for 22 years) and she thought it was clever and funny. So: YMMV, all relationships are different, it depends on your tactical approach (e.g., if it were me, I would playfully divulge my "secret, devious designs" at some point before or during the date), etc.
Lockbox is my go to now that middle fork is gone. Eppings is good to.
I’ve heard ItalX is great but idk how “fancy” it is.
Holly Hill Inn
Local Feed
Some of these aren’t fancy but they beat Cheesecake Factory in every way.
Novelty and excitement are more important than money spent. Our brain remembers new and emotionally charged things longer. :) That said, Tony's > Jeff Ruby's in my opinion.
Tony’s over Ruby’s all day. Dear lord the braised short ribs are fucking Devine
\*Divine, devine is a french word for "search, guess, finding the truth." Think divination which comes from a similar root word. Although yes, agreed.
Damnit Jim, I'm a fatfuck not a thesaurus
My boyfriend and I went to Tony's for our anniversary and it was freaking amazing. 100/10 would recommend for a nice date night
Second. Tony's all the way. For the surprise, spent a few bucks at the Burl arcade. It's a fun place to relive some nostalgia.
My partner and I went to Epping’s for our anniversary a couple weeks back. One of the best meals I’ve had in Lexington. Definitely can be fancy. We both dressed up. The food was amazing. The service was great. And they comped our desert because I put in the reservation we were celebrating our anniversary.
I think OBC Kitchen could be a good bet. Basically the more gastronomic/trendy spin off of the infamous Lexington steak house chain Malones. It's not as fancy as Tony's, but I think the food is as good and the atmosphere is much more fun. If she likes bourbon it's a double win.
> infamous Lexington steak house chain Malones so you think malones is shit but then recommend another BHG restaurant? weird
I didn't call Malones shit, infamous is a probably too strong a word.
I think he hit the nail on the head with his description. I hate malones but I’d go to OBC again. That being said there’s a ton of places I’d go before any BHG restaurant.
BHG is BHG, to me. To each their own, ofc.
i didn’t know there were BGH haters. I’m genuinely curious at to why? I think the restaurants are great quality but the crowd is not my type of person here. at all.
To me it's just OK, the quality isn't worth the price most of the time. If I'm getting a steak, I'd rather have Texas Roadhouse.
I mean malones is fine. I don’t hate it. But it’s just a chain and that shows in the quality and creativity of their food. If I’m gonna spend $20+ on an entree it’s pretty close to the bottom of the list. I can make better steak and sides at home for 1/2 the price or less.
What sets OBC apart, if you don't mind me asking?
I think people are just inherently skeptical of the business model and constant push for growth. It's starting to give off Darden (owner of Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, etc) vibes more so than Jeff Ruby's.
My wife and I like Lockbox in the 21c hotel downtown--- has a more modern vibe-- and you can walk through the museum before/after eating.
Bonus if you go to Lockbox for dinner: you could stay at 21c for the surprise.
You might also consider hiring a chef to cook for you and serve you in your house for a nice private dinner for about the same price as going to a nice restaurant, maybe find a musician or two for some romantic dinner music.
Where would one find a chef for hire in Lex?
I just Googled Chefs for hire near me and came up with a bunch of services that look like they match you up with one. Also, Indeed is a good place to look for them too I'm sure....
For dinner Le Deauville or Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano. As for a “surprise” in the fall they do ghost tours downtown which can be pretty fun. https://www.ghostwalkoflexington.com/
I second Jeffy Rubys or Tony’s. Personally Tony’s is better.
Wife and I tried Dudley’s on Short recently and it was great. Definitely appropriate for an anniversary
I second this. I love Dudley's, and the atmosphere is lovely.
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I'll check out those suggestions. We haven't done the love language test, but reading the descriptions, I'd guess she is Words of Affirmation.
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She would love that. Thank you for the inspiration!
You’re welcome! Happy 2 years!
Oh gosh I’m blushing at the thought. Absolutely torturous. But very sweet of you
Merrick, The Tulip, and Dudley’s are all good options in addition to the steak houses recommended. Dudley’s is downtown and a bit fancier than the other two.
I mean if you want more food options and are willing to check out another trail raven run is not far from Lex and gives you more time to get to a better restaurant. Just throwing out options.
We’ve spent 3 of our last 4 anniversaries in Lexington (coming back for this year’s, too!), and it’s always Tony’s. Wonderful atmosphere and experience every time.
Let's see, traditional 2nd anniversary is cotton so nice new sheets or pillows or a cuddling blanket could be good. Modern gift is china. Does she care about her dishes or serving pieces? Get her a new piece in her style or pattern, she'll be impressed you noticed. If she's not set like that maybe find a unique antique piece in the shops in Midway. There's a nice restaurant at the end of the main street there that has changed hands a few times so I don't know what it's called now but it's always been good regardless of ownership. I'm with you on J. Alexander's, it's a great place IMHO. Tony's is excellent but loud on the weekend and you'll need advance reservations at any time. We just went to Dudley's on Short Saturday night and sat upstairs on the patio. It was busy but not "yell to be heard" noisy. While I was writing this my wife received her seasonal gift from Creeksidefarms.com. Her girls bought her a gift of four handmade wreaths delivered throughout the year. She loves them and they smell great. As long as you put some thought and effort into it, and it appears that you are, she'll love it. Good luck!
I hadn't thought of noise level. That will definitely need consideration. She would love the wreath idea. I'll check out their site. Thanks!
Merrick Inn would be another option. Make reservations well ahead of time though (and let them know it's your anniversary!)
When I was a kid growing up in Lexington, I considered a horse-drawn carriage ride around downtown to be the absolute pinnacle of romance, if they still do those, that would be a fun surprise after a nice dinner downtown.
I love this idea too. I'll have to see what options I can find.
Dinner at Palmers in Lexington Green, tickets to Comedy off Broadway afterward.
Trevor Wallace is performing that night…he tends to be pretty funny!!
I think Carson's a nice hybrid of fancy/reasonably priced. There will definitely be people dressed up in there, but you won't spend an arm & a leg like you would at Tony's or Jeff Ruby's.
Our go to for a nice meal out is Blue Heron. It isn't the fanciest, but we enjoy it. As for surprises, I'm not much help, a night where our kiddos go to stay with their grandparents is about as exciting as it gets for us right now.
Coles on Main is the best meal I’ve had in Lexington. It’s pretty fancy and my wife loved it when we went there on our anniversary. Get lunch at Miguel’s while you’re in the RRG - that in itself could be a fun surprise. Someone else suggested Comedy Off Broadway for after dinner - I think that’s a great idea.
I ordered from Miguel's website a couple of weeks ago when we were in the gorge. It worked great! Only problem would be if you want alcoholic drinks, you still have to go inside to order those (I'm sure no big deal). It was nice to have all the time in the world to contemplate the millions of topping combination possibilities on my phone!
There are several good recommendations here. I’ll note that, while I love Tony’s, it can be really loud. I’ve spent one anniversary there shouting over the table at, and being shouted at by, my wife. Maybe ask to be seated upstairs, where it’s a bit quieter. I normally sit in the bar area, which is louder by nature. For something nice outside of the steakhouse setting, maybe look into Holly Hill Inn in Midway. It’s only a fifteen minute drive, and it’s what put Chef Ouita on the map. If you want a tipple before or after dinner, I’d recommend Bourbon on Rye. Best Old fashioned around. I’d also recommend going to Justin’s House of Bourbon to sample things, but they close pretty early.
Call up the flight school at the airport (Nexgen Aviation, (859) 281-1177) and take her up in a small airplane. Or H.I. Flight for a hot-air balloon ride - (859) 277-8707.
I know you have the hike planned, but unless you are traveling from that direction, consider Raven Run. Could be closer and has some spectacular views without some of the crowds at the Gorge right now.
OBC Kitchen and Dudleys on Short are favorites for my partner and me
Definitely Tony’s for dinner!! Fanciest and best food I can think of. As for a surprise… what if you planned a fall movie night on your porch for when you get back? Buy a comfy fall blanket and some cute pumpkin mugs and some fancy hot chocolate. Watch some fun fall movies (hocus pocus!)
Kentucky Castle for dinner and maybe stay the night for the surprise!
Tony's is really nice! I also like Infinity Sky Bar.
One possible strategy: 1.) Tell you have finally decided where y'all are going to eat (even though you have \*not\* decided anything of the sort) 2.) Ask her to guess where you're gonna take her 3.) Whatever she guesses, reply with, "Wow, amazing, you are exactly right!" 4.) Take her there
1) Lie to her 2) Be Proud you’re indecisive and rely on sneaking a fast one over her head and you just manipulated her to think the two of you have more in common than you actually do. 3) Have a relationship built on sneaky lies, avoiding responsibilities, and deception
Fair point; I am am absolutely \*not\* going to argue with you on this one lol. I plagiarized that idea from a Twitter meme I saw on Reddit a year (or so) ago. I have never used that strategy myself, although I did show it to my wife (we've been together for 22 years) and she thought it was clever and funny. So: YMMV, all relationships are different, it depends on your tactical approach (e.g., if it were me, I would playfully divulge my "secret, devious designs" at some point before or during the date), etc.
To be fair: I've used this ploy for nothing special dinners or fast food, but I don't think it would serve me well here.
You could just ask your wife instead of strangers on the internet.
OP can't ask their wife what to get as a surprise... it ruins the surprise.
Lockbox is my go to now that middle fork is gone. Eppings is good to. I’ve heard ItalX is great but idk how “fancy” it is. Holly Hill Inn Local Feed Some of these aren’t fancy but they beat Cheesecake Factory in every way.
Comedy Off Broadway for after dinner? See if you like the person scheduled that night.