Palmers Fresh Grill

We celebrated St. Pattys day at Palmers last night, what a beautiful restaurant! It was a nice night-​they have a patio in front but we decided to eat inside. They have a wide variety of options on their menu which is nice! We started off with the calamari appetizer. It was delicious! They bring out warm bread with olive oil so I was already getting full from the start! I ordered the Corn Meal Crusted Catfish that comes with fries, coleslaw & hush puppies. Such a huge portion! Kenyon got the Palmers burger which tasted so good-​it had to be the best burger I’ve had in Lexington! We saw a friend that ordered the Mahi Mahi and that looked amazing as well. We will definitely be going back and bringing friends!

Palmers has been around for a while, but I never made my way over there until a friend wanted to go there for her birthday. It’s so hidden away in Lexington Green, on the far side and with no easy access from either the front or back parking lot, that one wonders how it stays in business. Turns out it stays popular by serving really great food — what a concept! ;-) My friend and I didn’t have reservations, but the hostess gave us the option of eating at the bar or waiting. We opted for the bar, which wasn’t the most comfortable spot to eat (because: bar stools) but the engaging and friendly bartenders soon made me forget my less-​than-​perfect spot. My friend insisted I try the pork chop. Now, I should disclose that I am not a giant fan of pork chops, never really have been. Perhaps that is because as a kid my mom overcooked all meats, but seemed to particularly think pork wasn’t safe until it reached the charcoal stage. For this reason, I ordered the pork mostly to satisfy my friend and the bartender, who both assured me they were the best in town. They were NOT wrong. That porkchop was big, thick and the tastiest hunk of meat I’d had all month. It was perfectly medium-​well, beautifully presented, and the flavor was awesome. I had to resist gnawing on the bone. We also tried a couple of appetizers, I like the hushpuppies, the calimari was ok — your average calimari. The sides were great and the drinks were fun and speedily delivered. There is a big outdoor bar on the fountain pool which looks like it would be a fun casual hangout during the summer. The interior was decidedly upscale without being too pretentious. The prices weren’t cheap, but I felt they were fair for the food quality and location. I enjoyed my experience and I’ll put this on my short list of places to go when I’m looking for a special meal or to impress visitors.

First time here and the food and drinks were excellent.
The service… Well was quite intrusive. I was meeting a girlfriend to enjoy happy hour, dinner and conversation. The server seemed very persistent and rushed. In the sense I literally sat down and he asked what I wanted to drink. I had not even found the drink menu. This same thing happen when ordering food. Now I had never been here so please do not assume I know what I want to order for drinks and food. The place was dead. It was us and maybe two other tables. It was really off putting. I think he finally got the hint after we finished our meals. Needless to say service was disappointing.

I would definitely come back again. It’s a nice date restaurant. It is kinda in a weird place because it is in the strip mall next to Fayette Mall, but it’s in the back of the mall. It does have it’s own entrance, which we couldn’t find until we were leaving and had to walk around the mall because Joseph-​Beth was already closed.
We came here for the first time for NYE. We didn’t have a reservation because I was too lazy to reserve on Open Table and too indecisive and overwhelmed at all the choices. When I finally called the day before, she said that the computer wasn’t taking any more reservations. However, since we were going to be early diners (before 5 PM), she said to come on in, and they’d be able to seat us and get us out in plenty of time before our NYE’s concert. I felt bad about not calling earlier, but it was fine. We got out by 6 PM, and the booths were just really filling up when we were leaving.
So the one thing that really keeps this place from getting five stars is the kinda bombastic attitude I got when I asked about the seafood. I love seafood. I’m used to amazing seafood. Like seafood that was caught two hours before landing in front of the chef. That kind of excellent seafood. And honestly, I went with Palmers for NYE because I was dying for some seafood. So I asked what seafood was good, and he looked at me disbelievingly and said, «All the seafood is good.» I tried again and asked what seafood was fresh. He said «It’s all fresh!» Um, okay. Last time I checked, Lexington is kinda landlocked, and I highly doubt that those scallops are coming from the Kentucky River. I guess fresh has taken the liberty to equate to flash frozen. So I tried one last time, and asked where they sourced their seafood from. I kid you not: «Well, they come in by plane every couple of days.» Argh. I just wanted to know which seafood you got most recently! I don’t want your flash frozen stuff from last week! If I wanted that, I would have gone to Red Lobster! Cross off the scallops, the flounder, the seabass, and the ahi tuna. I joined my husband in getting the porterhouse instead.
We started with the calamari ($ 10.90), and that just reaffirmed my seafood aggravation. Fresh seafood, my butt. The rings were chewy; the breading was falling off. Edible yes. Superior no. It’s your every day calamari that you can find at Sam’s Club. We’ll pass on it next time.
The NYE special was what we had ordered, and it was the porterhouse for two ($ 50). A giant slab of porterhouse (done medium for my husband’s sake), creamed kale, and lobster mac and cheese. It actually made the meal. The porterhouse was done perfectly, and the waiter did an excellent job of describing for us prior what each level of doneness meant to them. It was spot on. That was devoured. I loved the creamed kale, and my husband, who does not even like kale, thought it was pretty good too. The lobster mac and cheese was much better than what I had expected; the cheeses were a nice mixture, and the lobster itself wasn’t bad. Good taste. I’d order lobster off the menu if that was an option.
I know it’s kinda weird, but we also ordered the tawny port (Taylor Fladgate «20 year,» Portugal) to go with dinner ($ 10/​$ 88). I don’t like reds; my husband likes heavier wines. We compromised and got a dessert wine, what can I say. It was… excellent. Best port I’ve ever tasted. Definitely tawny, but silky smooth and just full of undertones.
We didn’t get asked if we were going to have dessert (would have tried the bread pudding), but that’s ok. People were coming in, and we had been demolishing the porterhouse anyway.
I’d go back, and try my seafood question again. I was trying to be subtle, but maybe the Chicagoan in me needs to come out and just bluntly be like, «what was on the last shipment?». And if they can’t answer that, I’d just stick with the steak and the port.

Great menu and food quality. Summer time is great on the patio but we just had a dinner here around Christmas and the ambience inside was excellent. One of our favorite Lexington date spots.

Palmers is awesome. Great food and big menu. Something for everyone here and the patio is quite pleasant. Have been for lunch and dinner… both times were very good. You will also walk away satisfied and feeling full in comparison to some places in Lexington that charge similar prices but serve less food.

I love Palmers! It is like two cool restaurants in one — a casual, lakeside bar and a hip, high end restaurant.
The outdoor area is great when the weather is warm and you are feeling land-​locked. Hanging out by the lake is relaxing and I love that your four-​legged friends are welcome to join you. It is just a great, laid-​back atmosphere.
But then you walk inside and you are greeted with classy, hip, stylish décor with big windows — perfect for a daytime or evening meal.
Regardless of where you dine, the service is great — very attentive without being overbearing. And the food is really awesome — very well made and tasty. The bread they give you before your meal is amazing — freshly made and still hot from the oven. And I am going to say it — the Palmers burger is the best burger I have found in Lexington! It has a big, thick, juicy Patty that is actually seasoned. SO GOOD!
If you haven’t checked this place out yet, you need to get over here.

The food is amazing! I highly recommend the truffle fries! The complementary bread is to die for and we had great service. It’s an upscale restaurant and we were wearing sweats after working out and were still given great service! Very satisfied.

I don’t go here very often, but when I do I always leave asking myself «why don’t I come here more often?»
The only way I know to get to the front door is through Joseph-​Beth (also a great place if you’ve never been) so it’s a little out of the way. You won’t stumble into it on accident. The décor and atmosphere are excellent, it’s a great place to take someone you’re looking to impress. Yet it’s still casual and family friendly.
The drink menu is great and they have a daily happy hour. You can get something from most of the local breweries and the bourbon and wine lists are better than average.
All that is nothing in comparison to the food. I love the shrimp and grits, although I’m usually not a big fan of grits. Anything seafood related is going to be a solid choice. I’ve also had the burger and chicken, both very good choices. The only thing I haven’t been impressed with is the meatloaf. It was somewhere between ok and good.
To top it off the prices are reasonable. $ 15 for the shrimp and grits. I think the menu prices top out in the upper $ 30 range, but a $ 20 budget will leave just about anyone happy.

Food is excellent. We had the Lexington Spinach Ravioli and Champagne Chicken. Both were perfect. Nice quiet setting after Christmas Shopping at Fayette Mall. Server is polite and attentive. Food came out fast. Highly recommend.

Went here for my wife’s birthday. The ambiance was a little shy of what the proprietor was probably aiming for but nice enough. The service was good, as were the cocktails and appetizers on the social hour menu. The king crab legs were great though! We were also impressed that the hostess had read the note on my OpenTable reservation about my wife’s birthday and proactively wished her happy birthday. They gave my wife her choice of a free dessert, which was also a very nice touch. I’d definitely go back.

LOVE this place. Lunch menu has some excellent choices at great prices. Dinner menu is more limited and pricey but still good. Love to sit outside by the water during nice weather. They have live music on weekends which is fun. One of my favorite places to eat in Lexington-​great food, service and atmosphere.

I came here on a business trip with some colleagues and we were not disappointed.
The wait staff was very attentive and seemed to work very well together. Between the hostess, waitress and food runner, our glasses were always full without being over-​bearing. Our waitress gave good recommendations and was very professional in demeanor.
The outside patio seating is overlooking a medium-​to-​large size pond with a water fountain. The music was audible, however not too loud so we could enjoy good conversation. Patio seating is highly recommended.
We started with the calamari and it was excellent. The sauce on it was very tastey and the quantity was perfect for sharing. (We had a 4-​person party and there was plenty to go around.)
I had the shrimp fettuccine alfredo, based on some pictures/​reviews I saw on Unilocal,and it was very good. The shrimp was crisp (not fried; just fresh and perfectly cooked) and the noodles weren’t over cooked. The sauce had a slight smoke flavor but didn’t stray too far from what you would expect in an alfredo.
The other dishes at the table were: Fish and chips with (2) large catfish fillets, scallops, and pan seared salmon. The presentations were spot on and everyone proclaimed their satisfaction with the entrée’s.
For dessert, I had the crème brûlée. Oh my gosh was it good. There was a dollop of whip cream and a strawberry on the side that fit the dish perfectly. One of those desserts that I’m glad I didn’t have to share.
Not sure when I’ll be back to Lexington, but this place left a mark on me. Highly recommended.

Excellent experience, love the flavor. Even the ketchup is made in the kitchen.
If your in town, you should definitely check this place out!

The first time we came to Palmers was two years ago. We really enjoyed the feel and décor of the restaurant but liked we could still be casual if we choose! The food was excellent our first visit! I had the scallops and my husband had a steak. We continued to go there and say outside at the bar area which I just love the outdoor seating, you almost forgot that New Circle is right there (almost). Than I heard management changed and we went a few other times and it was just not good, like I got sick not good and the portions and quality seemed to be taking a dive. I had the oysters and the scallops and I was so sick that evening it was disturbing. So we stopped going all together. My friend called me and wanted to go somewhere to sit outside and have drinks and dinner and picked Palmers. I was Leary but it isn’t all bad so I had no problem. I had the burger and it was so incredibly good! We shared the Ahi appetizer and that was yummy also! I think it might be placed back on the list for spring and summer and give it its second chance. I just stay away from oysters and the scallops (although I love the scallop dish)

In my opinion the best outdoor atmosphere in Lexington. It is as close as you can come to sitting near the beach. I know that is a bit of a reach but it is a nice tiki bar feel. The food has always been good and good proportions. Sitting out on the water and a comedy club next door. A great night out in my opinion.

Food was really good. The service and staff was nice and fast and I loved eating out on the patio. Great atmosphere.

Why 4 stars? Because it satisfied my need, despite the lameness of said need.
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I was traveling to Lexington for work, and staying right next door in the Hilton. I had a small window of time to grab a quick bite before I needed to head over to that evening’s Unilocal event. Heather P recommended Palmer’s, which happened to be approximately 75 steps way from my room :)
I normally would have ordered their hot brown, and not even given any other item a second thought. But, there was a major hangup with this — I had just completed a 3-​day juice cleanse the day prior, and my meal at Palmer’s was going to be my initial re-​introduction into the world of solid food.
So I went with the caribbean chicken salad. It was great, and it didn’t set off any alarms in my stomach, which had been so used to only taking in kale and carrot juice. I also liked the water-​front theme here. Obviously living in Florida, that’s not uncommon at home, but I don’t ever tire of it :)
I realize I wasted the first two paragraphs outlining a story that no reader of this review would care about. They just want to know, «is Palmer’s good or not good?» The residents of Lexington could not care any less about my juice cleanse, and I’m not narcissistic enough to think otherwise.
But I just had to justify why I would order a salad when a hot brown was available. I felt weird not defending myself.

I went to Palmers Fresh Grill with a group of friends last night. Everyone enjoyed their experience. The waiter was courteous and checked on us often. We had mussels, calamari and chipotle egg rolls as starters. All were tasty.
For dinner, two of us had the Pretzel Crusted Trout. It was very good. I enjoyed the spinach and potatoes that came with it. My husband got the salmon and enjoyed that as well.
The atmosphere is pleasant and festive and in a nice location. The lights were a little bright for dinner. That would be our only complaint.
The waiter let us take our time and talk. I had the bourbon and salted caramel bread pudding for dessert. It was a great fall dessert.

Spoiled. I’m spoiled. It’s my standard expectation to have excellent food so excellent service gets my stars.
This place has a beatific exterior and interior décor. Comfortable open but yet not exposed. A wonderful venue.
The food selection is wonderful with a constantly updated menu.