(locations are linked in the original article)
No. 26: Lexington, KY
Louisville’s smaller, lesser-visited neighbor, is finally starting to compete in the food arena (it already puts up a strong fight for horses and bourbon). This year the city got Kentucky’s first food hall, The Barn, with an all-local, all-independent lineup including craft ice cream at Crank & Boom, pasture-raised fried chicken at Pasture by Marksbury Farm, and Japanese ramen at Atomic Ramen (from MasterChef star Dan Wu). Also in the same complex is James Beard Award semifinalist chef Ouita Michel’s latest project, Honeywood. (Michel has six other restaurants in the city and is the chef-in-residence at Woodford Reserve Distillery.) Other hot openings include the Latin-infused Corto Lima from James Beard Award–nominated chef Jonathan Lundy and the city’s very own Shake Shack. Beloved upscale mainstay Dudley’s on Short was selected for one of Southern Living’s Best in the South awards this year and on the bourbon front, Bluegrass Tavern, Belle’s Cocktail House, The Paddock Bar and Patio, Parlay Social and Old Bourbon County Kitchen were all named on Bourbon Review’s list of the top 99 bourbon bars in the country. After all, bourbon is still king here.
—Devorah Lev-Tov
https://www.zagat.com/b/30-most-excitin ... erica-2017