This place was an absolute treat. I was taken with the Decour, and wish I had taken some pictures now. We found this gem while looking at the University of Kentucky and I'm so glad that we found it. The best was scrumptious, the service was fantastic. I wish that we had one of these in San Diego, if I'm ever in Kentucky I would definitely have dinner here again. read more

See all

Almost 7 years between visits since we're from out of town but everything was exactly as we remembered. The fried avocado appetizer is required. This is a must stop for any visit to Lexington! read more

Coles 735 Main - Marksbury Farm Bone-In Pork Chop* - New American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

New Years Eve with my beloved. Panko crusted shrimp appetizer, grilled caesar salad, an 8oz. filet mignon with a mushroom sauce of some kind and a freshly made butterscotch pecan cookie with ice cream. Perfect food, perfect service. read more

Amazing meal and service. You MUST try the butterscotch pecan cookies. Life changing!

Consistently excellent. I've been here 5-6 times in the past 2 years, and I can confidently say it's my favorite restaurant in Lexington. Food: excellent. Complex, well prepared, and well explained. I've been impressed by every dish I've ordered. The filet is the best if had in Lexington (I've also eaten at Malone's, Tony's, Dudley's... not Jeff Ruby yet...) Service: undoubtedly the best in Lexington. Every server knows the menu well, and is super attentive. The food explanation is superb. The manager always comes around to check how things are, which is great. I'm not normally a dessert person, but I make an exception for Coles. Last night they had a Woodford creme brûlée. I couldn't pass. It was the best. Price: a little higher than many places in Lexington. I've always been over $100 for 2 people, but it's worth it. This is a special place, and worthy of any celebration. Highly recommend you make reservations! read more

Delicious! Great bartenders and quaint atmosphere. Never dissatisfied with anything on the menu. read more

Coles 735 Main - Panko Fried Avocado - New American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Unassuming gourmet French bistro with KY hospitality just outside of downtown. Not cheap dinner but worth the money for the quality and portion size. Great attention to service with a large selection of wine and extensive bourbon list. I'm not a bread before dinner guy but those little rolls were delicious. I had an eagle rare and the special steak entree and a side order of the mushrooms, it was worth it. My wife had the confit chicken which was mind blowingly good. Judging by what went by our table there's not a bad thing on the menu. Next time we're in town we'll be there for dinner. Cheers read more

One of the best restaurants I have ever eaten in. Fish perfectly cooked, wine at proper the temperature. Great service and wonderful atmosphere. Highly highly recommend. read more

AMAZING FOOD AND AND AMAZING SERVICE!! We have a young daughter with severe food allergies, Cole and his staff went above and beyond to assure us that her food would be safe! Not only was the food safe, it was so delicious. What a fantastic experience, we will definitely be back! read more

Loved everything about this restaurant! The rolls, the fried avacado, we were a table of 8 and not a disappointing meal among the group!

Cole's offers local flavors in a cozy setting. It's the perfect spot for a date night or festive gathering with family and friends. The menu is brimming with tempting options from the scallops, to the pork chop to the filet. Our table started with some delicious baked brie, and the show stopping deep fried avocado topped with crab. The grilled Caesar and the wedge were crisp and delicious. Next came a melt in your mouth filet and tasty Scottish salmon. We were feeling happy and satisfied, but a couple of glasses of wine in, our resistance was down and we forged right ahead to desert because we did not want to break the spell. Do save room for the indulgent butterscotch cookies a la mode! Can't wait for my next visit to Cole's. read more

Coles 735 Main - Iceberg Wedge Salad - New American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

The experience: A self-proclaimed foodie, I'd hadn't yet ventured to Cole's on Main (which opened in 2012) until last night. Everyone I know who tried it had rave reviews to share, so I was hopeful. Unfortunately, my first encounter will likely be my last. Our server was not the absolute worst I've ever had, but he was close. Fortunately our party had drinks from the bar when our table was ready (8:20) because we were left alone for 15 minutes once seated. After the server finally arrived and took our appetizer order (8:35), we weren't seen again for 30 minutes when the appetizers arrived. It's now after 9:00, we've been seated for 40 minutes and haven't placed our entree order. When the server returned to take our orders, he presented us with the specials of the day, INCLUDING the appetizers (what the???). We jumped at the chance to place another drink order at this point, because lord knows when we'd see him again. The drinks came out in a timely manner, then we didn't see our server again until around 9:30, when he swung by the table to let us know there were 5 minutes left before our food came out. Around 9:50 a member of our party got frustrated and left the table to find a manager. Our food arrived close to 10:00, after an hour and 40 minutes. A manager did stop by the table around 10:15 to give us the chefs apologies and comp one round of drinks plus one appetizer. The food: For the appetizer course we ordered the Charcuterie Board and Baked Brie 'en croute'. The latter was excellent! It included a mango and tomato chutney, and the Brie was lightly breaded with something that reminded me of a croissant, light and flaky, but with a nice little crunch to constrain the gooey cheese. Yum! The Charcuterie Board, on the other hand, was a jack of all trades and master of none. Too many items and not enough of any, not to mention we truly had no idea what we were eating because our server gave us little guidance. Skip it, there are much better boards elsewhere in Lexington. Everyone in our party ordered the filet mignon, and every plate was clean when we finished. I'll just say that. The dish pairing was fried cubes of Weisenberger Mill grits, which is misleading if you read the menu. One person ordered the brussel sprouts and they were excellent, with a hint of citrus. I opted to sub the grits for white cheddar and leek potato gratin, which was TO DIE FOR! I took half of it home and ate the rest 2 hours later. Delicious. Bottom line: The food gets a 4/5 and the service gets a 2/5, because at least our server did get our orders correct, but I don't feel compelled to spend money there again with the vast selection Lexington has to offer, especially in the fine dining arena. read more

See all

It's okay. People we very nice and the food was delicious. The setting is not the easiest for handicap or low mobility people so just plan ahead. read more

We visited Lexington from Los Angeles and Boston for 5 days. Coles 735 Main was, by far, the absolute best food we had during our stay in Lexington. Nothing else even came close. We went to other restaurants that had great reviews, and they paled in comparison. The atmosphere was both warm and elegant. The service was impeccable. Our waiter was so wonderful that we wished we could show him around during his travels to California. They also comped our desserts when they found out we had upcoming birthdays. Bottom line: Do not miss out on this place if you are visiting Lexington. read more

Cole's is one of our favorite restaurants! The food is delicious and unique, I love the cozy atmosphere and the service is always great. We request Garrett anytime he's there he's great! The Panko fried avocado is a must, the lobster bisque is delicious and plenty of lobster and don't snub your nose at the butterscotch cookies they are no plain old cookies they are amazing baked to order gooey cookies, get a side of vanilla ice cream to go with them! read more

See all

NO SERVICE AT ALL! It's unfortunate that we were made to feel so unwelcome for our dinner reservation tonight. We were seated, given water and menus and then ignored for at least a half hour. We've been in the restaurant business for over twenty five years in Maine and all I'm left with tonight is embarrassment for your lack of professionalism. read more

Came here on a Thursday night, sat inside. If it was warmer I think the patio would have been a nice option. I was surprised by the food. Not sure what I was expecting but they definitely went above my expectations. I had the new york strip, which is usually not my favorite cut of meat. Usually a tough cut of meat. However, either the meat was high quality or they made it that way somehow because it was delicious. This place is great for a date night. read more

Do yourself a favor and run, not walk, to this restaurant!! It was the absolute best meal and quality service that I have had in years! I had the bone-in pork chop and it was the best. I highly recommend this restaurant. The cocktails, atmosphere and food is impeccable! Signed, Food Critic read more

This is one of the great restaurants, one of the best I have ever eaten at and I have dined on 4 continents. The atmosphere is classy and fun, with a casual sophisticated ambiance. The lighting was warm, and you could easily read the menu. The paintings of horses were awesome and reminded you that you were in Lexington. The service was exceptional. We tried to make reservations online and by calling but they were booked for the evening. But because Coles was so highly recommend we thought let's take our chances and walk in and see if we could get a seat at the bar. As soon as we walked in the hostess who made you instantly feel welcomed found us a table for two. The place was full of people enjoying the evening. The waitress was lovely, and had apparently worked at Coles for a long time. She was gracious, very informed and most helpful. She must have checked on is 10 times. I had the Marksbury Farm Bone-in Pork Chop and my partner had Beef Ribs Marinated in Pastrami Sauce which was a special recommended by the waitress. Both meals were delicious. We had the fried green tomatoes as an appetizer, and shared a side dish of Kenny's White Cheddar & Leek Potato Gratin. This is a restaurant that we will definitely come back to. read more

See all

Impeccable. Dined tonight with a group of six on their outdoor patio with heat lamps. From start to finish...formidable. I was offered a shawl by the gentleman pouring our water as we were getting settled. They had reading glasses for my mother who forgot hers. The attention to details was amazing. We ordered appetizers such as the jackfruit "crab cake", Brie en croute, tempura shrimp, and Caesar salad. All delicious and unique. For entrées, we ordered the Chilean sea bass special, salmon, panko fried avocado with crab salad, and burgers with duck fat fries. The oohs and ahhs gave us away. We loved it all! Finished the evening with Woodford Reserve creme brûlée and the house made brownie with dulce de leche, peanut butter ice cream and candied pecans. Oh my goodness! Our server was extraordinary and caught on quickly to the humor of a few of my dining mates in for the Rolex, as did the sommelier. Impeccable service from everyone who came to our table. Wine, cocktails, my mocktail, and coffee were all on point. This is the best meal and experience I've had since relocating back to Lexington last year. I cannot wait to return! read more

I was able to resolve my complaint with the restaurant amicably. Looking forward to my next experience at Cole's! read more

There is ample parking here, but there's a HUGE pothole in the middle of the parking lot. The parking lot is poorly lit at night. The staff was very friendly the moment we stepped in. Our server was very knowledgeable and great at giving recommendations for food and spirits. We were able to order an appetizer that is on the bar menu but not the dining menu: deep fried avocados. They were delicious, stuffed with a mound of crab meat! I ordered the Udon Vegetable Stir-fry. The noodles were more like linguini noodles not udon, but the dish was yummy! I felt like it should've been a larger portion for the cost. My friend ordered the special: Skull Island Prawns. Although the prawn shells were said to be edible, it's not very comfortable to swallow. The flavor of the prawns and the sauce was excellent! Dessert didn't disappoint with warm, soft cookies and ice cream! read more

Always have a great meal here! The service was impeccable and a small snafu was quickly taken care of and apologized for right away. It was busy as expected for a Friday night but no delays in food and plenty of space at the area around our table to feel comfortable during the meal. One of our favorite restaurants in Lexington! And oh yeah, that bourbon selection... read more

Celebrating my birthday dinner at a completely unknown restaurant for us was A scary thought, but it did not disappoint. Coles 735 Main was absolutely delightful, from the charming dining space to the amazing selections on the menu. The food selection/taste/presentation was fantastic. We look forward to dining there again on our next visit to Lexington. read more

See all

Coles is always a fabulous experience. Everything from the food to the service is always impeccable. The duck fat fries are an absolute must. I had the scallops with the carrot purée and all but licked my plate clean. My husband had the filet Oscar style and loved it. It might be the best filet in town as I snuck a few a bite of his. Paired with the Leese Fitch Cabernet they have on draft and I'm a happy girl. Our server was knowledgable and friendly and full of recommendations. He was pleasant and around when we needed anything without being intrusive. The general manager also stopped by to make sure we had a good experience which is always nice to see. Coles is a go to staple for fabulous noms. read more

I can't even begin to say enough about my wonderful experience at Coles on Main! My boyfriend and I made a reservation there for our anniversary, and we didn't know we were in for such a treat. Our service was top-notch. Ricky was our waiter, and I'd say it was the best service I've ever experienced at a restaurant, especially on in Lexington. Our drinks were super! We ordered a martini and a whiskey sour to start the night, and we loved them both. Very extensive cocktail list. We also ordered wine with dinner off of their impressive wine list, and we were happy with both selections. Ricky made a recommendation of a Tempranillo, and he brought some to try before he brought a full glass. It was a perfect pairing with the NY Strip he ordered. For an appetizer we ordered a charcuterie board. Their meats are all made in-house, and they were out of this world. All of their ingredients are sourced locally, and Ricky was very familiar with were everything was from and how it was made. For dinner, I ordered the salmon dish, and my boyfriend had the NY Strip. Again, both phenomenal. The steak came with these little grits cubes, which seemed odd, but they were great. It's a large meat portion, so it was nice that it didn't come with a massive baked potato like normal. The salmon was cooked to perfection, and it came with some fingerling potatoes and a nice green sauce. Then they brought us coffee on the house to wrap up the night! Coles is officially my favorite Lexington eat, and I would recommend it to anyone! read more

We made reservation for the anniversary and daughter's birthday. When we get there checking in the front desk asked us not staying in the room inside and go outside for waiting. It was 40F outside. We decided to give up because it was not a good experience at all. Inside of restaurant were people there drinking in the bar and a lot of empty tables. The front desk just kicked up out. It was a terrible experience. No matter how nice food they offered, we will never consider going back. read more

The New York strip was phenomenal! Would def go back for that dish specifically. This makes for a great date spot as well! It's pretty nice but not toooo fancy so there doesn't feel like a need to dress up a ton. read more

Came for "Restaurant Week" because the special menu attracted me. Started with the pâté and a martini then a Caprese-style salad. Had the chicken primavera for the main course and it was delicious! Been here a few times and have been apathetic in general but tonight was off the hook good. May have been the server, Yolanda, who was attentive without being disruptive and was on top of everything all night. She really enhanced the experience. The three tiers of dessert were perfect mini renditions of key lime pie, tres leches cheesecake and chocolate cake! read more

All I can say is Coles is my go to restaurant. I can count on bringing guests and know we will have good food and service. Thank you! Where do I start? When we arrive the bar was full but our table was ready so we sat down immediately. I know that seems like a little thing but there are so many places you go and you have to wait to get seated even with a reservation. (yes, that is a pet peeve) The waiter showed up soon after we were settled. Just to say hello and introduce himself. He was very help when my partner was contemplating the craft cocktails. Thanks G. I also like the fact that he tasted the items on the menu. It drives me crazy when you ask about a dish and the person as no clue or goes running to the kitchen to ask. Not at Coles. My partner loved the lamb rib appetizer. I enjoyed the brussels sprouts salad and the ravioli. The duck was perfect and the portion was more than even he could eat. Luckily we have a little one at home who pounced on it when it came through the door. I try to always give a piece of feedback in these reviews.....I guess the only thing I would say is the ravioli appetizer was yummy but I thought the value wasn't there as it is with most of the menu. read more

Wonderful food, amazing service, what else could you want?? We were in town to tour bourbon distilleries, and our friends made reservations here. Our server was great! Personable, efficient, patient when answering our questions (as it was our first time dining here). My husband ordered the duck and shrimp etouffee and raved about it! He is a duck lover and it was cooked to perfection. I ordered the special chicken (a whole quarter I believe?), and it was crispy on the outside, lusciously moist on the inside, and beautifully seasoned. We had a nice table that had comfy bench seating along the window and two chairs on the outside of the table. It had a warm, cozy (yet beautiful) atmosphere. We would definitely return if in the area!! read more

I have had the pleasure of dining here for the past three or four years while in Lexington for the Land Rover (Rolex)Three Day Event. Dinner last night was as always spectacular. The environment is cozy, southern casual elegance with touches of equestrian as one sees everywhere in Lexington. The menu is lovely, but the specials were our choices. We started with an Old Fashioned from the bar with rye bourbon. Appropriate for Kentucky and it was perfect. Our server, Austin brought a basket if various types of biscuits with butter. They make all their breads in house, and I particularly loved the biscuit with whole black peppercorns. Spicy! Our appetizer was Morel Mushroons sauted with leeks, served with toasted bread tips. Our dinner choices were Permit pan fried and served in a reduction of butter braised collard greens and blueberries. My husband chose lamb served over spicy cheesy grits. We enjoyed this with a glass of Williamette Valley Pinot Noir. One should note that their wine and liquour list was extensive! Many bourbons and scotches to choose from. We ended this enjoyable evening with creme brulee - bourbon infused of course! And as a final icing on the cake, Austin handed me the recipe for the cracked pepper biscuits as we were leaving. Needless to say, I gave Coles 735 a Five on my review. read more

Showed up in a down pour on a Friday night with no reservation. We were seated in a safe tent with tables properly spaced. Glad we were worked in because the food was spectacular!!!! Salmon on carrot puree with Brussel sprouts was fantastic. Also got the warm cookies to go. Can't wait to go again!!! read more

A wonderful dining experience for my husband's birthday! We started with the Tempura Shrimp and the Grilled Cesar - both to die for! We then both got the Filet - one Oscar-style. Both incredible! Arguably the best steak in Lexington. Wonderful service as well! We will always love Coles for a celebration! read more

Everything about this restaurant was ON POINT. The interior of the restaurant had fabulous design, with unique attention to the minutest of details - think pillows, picture frames, linens, flowers... even the bathroom felt like I was walking into a French-inspired Pinterest board. The food was nothing short of delicious. I had the cantaloupe gazpacho for starter and was pleasantly surprised. It was sweet and creamy, with a little bit of spice. For my main course, I enjoyed a medium rare filet, cooked to perfection, served with fried grits (yes, it is as good as it sounds). The service was impeccably seamlessly. Nothing more to say - you know a server does his job when he goes unnoticed. A true gem in Lexington, I will be sure to return. read more

Coles 735 Main - New American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Coles has impressed me so much that I've made multiple visits to try everything they have. The wait staff is very friendly; with depending how busy it is, they have someone else to bring your foodand take your empty plates, or your server does that. The appetizers are a hit from the tempura shrimp to the baked brie 'en croute', to the soups of the day and their lobster bisque soup (always on menu). The entrees don't fall short either with me never actually ordering something off the menu, but I get the specials all the time and have yet to be disappointed. They always have a fish special and a meat special. Their desserts don't disappoint either. Their flourless chocolate torte and the Woodford Reserve Crème Brulee are two of my favorites from any restaurant. read more

I've always heard good things about Cole's. Mostly that it is expensive so it's taken me awhile to decide to try it. I came for what I hoped would be happy hour only to find out that they have absolutely no drink specials ever. So my friend and I ordered drinks and an appetizer. The Panko fried avocado with Tuna was delicious. They have a full dinner menu and also a bar menu that includes appetizer type items but they are in the $10-$15 range. I saw some plates walking by that all looked really tasty. read more

Coles 735 Main - New American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

See all

Despite the holiday rush and bustle around town, we successfully made reservations at Cole's and as always, the service and food were both impeccable. The baked brie en croute has delicious, served warm with an apricot and tomato chutney. First rate! Salads were outstanding, but let's get to the main courses. The black angus falls NY strip was perfectly seasoned and cooked. And the diver scallops had a delicious crust, but were melt in your mouth on the inside...perfection. Service was helpful and efficient without the feeling of someone lingering over the table. read more

Never, ever had a bad experience and we have been no less than 15 times!! Food is always excellent, service is top notch and atmosphere is great as well! They have adapted well to covid guidelines! 10 stars! read more

We had reservations for 4 thru Opentable. Surprised we were able to get in, due to our late notice the evening before. We arrived about 15 min early and waited patiently by the bar. Also, of note...They have a very small parking lot, had to park across the street. Hubby dropped me off at the door so I didn't have to walk so far in heels! They have a nice fireplace, cozy little area to wait. Busy bartender. We were seated pretty promptly once the rest of our party arrived. We have been here before and are very fond of the lamb shank but were disappointed to learn it is not on the menu; however, the waitress kindly informed us she would give us the owners card and let us know if we called a few days before the next visit maybe he would be able to accommodate! How awesome!! So.. we started with the Baked Brie 'en Croute which was amazing! I had the Scottish Salmon and my husband had the Beef Bulgogi and we shared! We did not let them know we were planning to share and when they realized our intention said they would have been happy to split the evenly in the kitchen-- which I love! Will do next time. Both were great dishes but the Beef Bulgogi was the standout! So flavorful and tender!! We did not have dessert today as we were blasted but we have had the Creme Brûlée in the past and the warm cookies and both are to die for. read more

See all