Highest-rated steakhouses in Lexington by diners

The French have their bistros. The English have their pubs. And the Americans have their steakhouses.

Going out for a steak has been a pivotal part of American culture for more than a century, but it wasn’t always considered a high-class, expensive meal. In New York City in the 1800s, working-class folks would down pints of ale and feast on slices of beefsteak (usually without utensils and atop white or French bread) for celebratory meals. Sometimes, the “beefsteak banquet,” as it was known, would be put on as a political fundraiser.

Soon, fine-dining establishments opened up to take those steak dinners up a notch, like Delmonico’s in 1837, Old Homestead Steakhouse in 1868, and Carl Luger’s Café, Billiards and Bowling Alley (now Peter Luger) in 1887. One thing has remained the same though: Dining at a steakhouse is still synonymous with celebration. It’s the kind of meal used to mark milestone moments on the path to the American dream—get a job, buy a house, go out for steak.

The steakhouse experience has certainly modernized from the days of eating beef with your hands and slugging beers. Ordering a steak involves choosing the best cuts, like rib-eye, filet mignon, and New York strip. Then there are the starters—a shrimp cocktail, oysters Rockefeller, or a classic house salad with your choice of dressing. And of course, you can’t forget all of the accouterments—the potato (baked, mashed, or au gratin?), the vegetable (creamed spinach, sautéed asparagus, or roasted broccoli?), and a slice of classic New York cheesecake to finish it off.

More than a century after the steak dinner got upgraded in New York City, chain steakhouses started bringing this central part of the American culinary tradition cross-country in the 1980s and ’90s with spots like Texas Roadhouse, LongHorn Steakhouse, Outback Steakhouse, and The Capital Grille. Today, with so many steakhouses to choose from, it takes high-quality service, top-of-the-line cooking, and of course, the best cuts of beef to stand out from the rest.

How will you choose where to live out this iconic American meal? To help, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated steakhouses in Lexington, according to diners’ reviews on Yelp as of January 2024. Only restaurants with at least five reviews were considered.

Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily depict the specific restaurants listed or the dishes they serve.

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#23. Columbia Steak House

– Rating: 2.0/5 (132 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 2750 Richmond Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses, Southern
– Read more on Yelp

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#22. Logan’s Roadhouse

– Rating: 2.5/5 (88 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 1908 Pavillon Way Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses, American, Barbecue
– Read more on Yelp

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#21. Columbia Steak House

– Rating: 2.5/5 (14 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 2750 Richmond Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses
– Read more on Yelp

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#20. JW’s Steakhouse – Marriott

– Rating: 3.0/5 (40 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 1800 Newtown Pike Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses
– Read more on Yelp

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#19. Outback Steakhouse

– Rating: 3.0/5 (131 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 3395 Nicholasville Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses
– Read more on Yelp

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#18. Outback Steakhouse

– Rating: 3.0/5 (145 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 1957 Bryant Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses
– Read more on Yelp

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#17. Columbia Steak Express

– Rating: 3.0/5 (37 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 125 Southland Drive Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses, Colombian, Sandwiches
– Read more on Yelp

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#16. El Malecon Mexican Seafood

– Rating: 3.5/5 (11 reviews)
– Address: 481 West New Circle Road Ste 130 Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Mexican, Steakhouses, Seafood
– Read more on Yelp

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#15. Miyako Sushi & Steakhouse

– Rating: 3.5/5 (188 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 2547 Richmond Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Steakhouses
– Read more on Yelp

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#14. LongHorn Steakhouse

– Rating: 3.5/5 (118 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 2217 Harrodsburg Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses, American, Barbecue
– Read more on Yelp

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#13. Texas Roadhouse

– Rating: 3.5/5 (147 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 3116 Richmond Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses, Barbecue, American
– Read more on Yelp

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#12. Texas Roadhouse

– Rating: 4.0/5 (127 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 3030 Lakecrest Cir Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses, Barbecue, American
– Read more on Yelp

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#11. Blue Heron Steakhouse

– Rating: 4.0/5 (168 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 185 West Jefferson St. Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Cocktail Bars, Pubs, Steakhouses
– Read more on Yelp

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#10. Palmers Fresh Grill

– Rating: 4.0/5 (308 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 161 Lexington Green Cir Ste C-8 Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Salad
– Read more on Yelp

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#9. Malone’s Palomar

– Rating: 4.0/5 (210 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 3735 Palomar Center Drive Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses, Sushi Bars, American
– Read more on Yelp

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#8. Texas de Brazil – Lexington

– Rating: 4.0/5 (142 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 151 Larue Ste 150 Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses, Brazilian, Venues & Event Spaces
– Read more on Yelp

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#7. J. Alexander’s

– Rating: 4.0/5 (277 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 4081 Finn Way Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: New American, Seafood, Steakhouses
– Read more on Yelp

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#6. Malone’s Lansdowne

– Rating: 4.0/5 (314 reviews)
– Price level: $$$
– Address: 3347 Tates Creek Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses, Sushi Bars, American
– Read more on Yelp

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#5. Malone’s

– Rating: 4.0/5 (433 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 1920 Pleasant Ridge Drive Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: American, Sushi Bars, Steakhouses
– Read more on Yelp

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#4. Ted’s Montana Grill – Hamburg Pavilion

– Rating: 4.0/5 (213 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 2304 Sir Barton Way Ste 170 Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Burgers, American, Steakhouses
– Read more on Yelp

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#3. Tony’s of Lexington

– Rating: 4.5/5 (505 reviews)
– Price level: $$$$
– Address: 401 West Main St. Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Wine Bars
– Read more on Yelp

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#2. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse – Lexington

– Rating: 4.5/5 (257 reviews)
– Price level: $$$$
– Address: 101 West Vine St. Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Steakhouses, Sushi Bars, Seafood
– Read more on Yelp

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#1. Malone’s Prime Events & Receptions

– Rating: 4.5/5 (18 reviews)
– Price level: $$
– Address: 3373 Tates Creek Road Lexington, Kentucky
– Categories: Venues & Event Spaces, Steakhouses
– Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 275 metros.