Always love the food and service at Lexington Social. It's definitely on of the best, if not the best, in the Bloomington Normal area.

I'd like to preface this review by saying last time I was here it was very, very good. This time however, it was not. Last night I took my college-aged kids and wife here for my birthday. It was the 4th time I've been and was by far the worst experience. We started w oysters and they were great--both kinds. My kids and I ordered iced teas and got glasses full of ice w a little bit of really watery iced tea. Next were the fries--pretty good but the "aioli" was just mayo w a dash of lemon -- diff than last time. The carrots were also pretty good, but the flavors didn't all come together. We asked for a refill on iced tea and were told "the bar just 86'd iced tea for the night". ??The restaurant seemed discombobulated. The lamb ribs were cooked really well but didn't have much flavor. Our waiter never came by 1x to ask about or food, and when clearing plates never wiped up spilled food from the table. Had high hopes for the main entrees (lemon pasta and halibut w beurre blanc). All of our entrees came to the table lukewarm. The lemon pasta was oily and a little clumpy and didn't taste great. The halibut was overcooked and the beurre blanc had little to no taste. Super disappointing. If this was the first time I had been there I wouldn't go back. read more

See all

Lexington Social is definitely a destination dining experience. They are only open Thursday through Saturday, 5 pm-9pm unless they are having a special event such as Lexington on the Shore, a one day Maine Lobster shack experience with Maine and Connecticut style lobster rolls, clam chowder, fresh oysters, fish and chips, and fried clams. The petite Sea Kist oysters from Rhode Island were very good as were the Pleasant Cove oysters from Maine. We had the Connecticut style lobster rolls ( butter instead of mayonnaise salad style.) The fried clams were also very tasty. I liked the briny taste of the Rhode Island oysters slightly more than the Maine ones. Lobster rolls were only $34 which was quite reasonable. All in all, our dinner including Column Like I See 'Em' American lager from White Oak Brewing in Normal, Illinois came to about $82 each including tip. They also feature local beers from Fairbury, Illinois. Lexington is just outside of Bloomington-Normal and about an hour from Champaign, Illinois. It is worth the drive for such a fantastic dining experience. read more

See all

Such an amazing fine finding experience! Delicious fresh ingredients and unique dishes. Amazing staff and vibe! Will 100% be back! read more

See all

Such a Treasure. My wife and I chose Lexington Social as our 11th Anniversary destination. We targeted Bloomington and Lexington seemed a reasonable jaunt. The atmosphere is intentional and functional. We got a Maine coastal vibe. Staff is professional and understand the heart of Social. Flavors and portions were inspiring. We felt honored to share our special day with Lexington Social. Highly recommended. Worth a drive. read more

Lexington Social - Key Lime Pie. - New American Near Me - Lexington, Illinois

We sent the following feedback to Lexington Social immediately after our visit on the Square digital receipt: First time at Lexington Social. Like the ambience of the interior; I can see the niche LS is going for. I think it's difficult and I appreciate the efforts. We ordered a bottle of Chardonnay with bread and butter - these were very both very good. I ordered the ribeye well done (which I know generally prohibits me from complaining about the toughness of the steak); however, it was cooked beyond taking the pink out, was like shoe leather and served with a serrated butter knife. I set it aside after trying to eat a few bites. I asked our waiter Mark - a nice young man - to box up the uneaten steak. He asked if I wanted to give the kitchen some feedback on the steak. I declined. Nothing further was said by anyone at LS about my boxing up my uneaten steak. I have a picture if you'd like me to send. We drank our wine; I ate my fries. My wife then told me she was struggling with pepper flakes on her crab filled pasta; she doesn't tolerate hot or spicy food; we reviewed the menu description for her pasta - no mention of pepper flakes - we discussed that there wasn't even a reasonable way to protect her prior to ordering - not even logical she would ask if the crab pasta was spicy.... Our bill was 150; with tip 180; I really really wanted to like LS, but the food experience was just awful. PS. not sure why LS switched out the filet for the ribeye - filets are generally more mainstream than ribeye cuts ... and the sauce served with the ribeye tonight was not even close to the sauce served with the filet prior - I have pictures of the sauce with the filet vs what I received tonight with the ribeye ... Not sure how you process my input; I came prepared for a special dining experience; I can definitely see LS restaurant efforts - but tonight was a huge disappointment for both our entree experiences for the reasons mentioned. Here are my additional Yelp review comments the next day with my additional thoughts ... I'm attaching a few pictures. We had anticipated getting the filet mignon with cafe de paris sauce ... as seen on the LS website; our waiter told us they had switched to a ribeye two weeks earlier, but that the ribeye had the same cafe de paris sauce ... I know that ribeyes are more difficult to cook and serve than filets, lowered my expectations and believed it could be okay with that yummy looking cafe de paris sauce ... The ribeye picture below was well done served with a white sauce not even resembling the cafe de paris sauce previously advertised with the filet on the LS website ... In hindsight, there were multiple failures last night at Lexington Social: in the kitchen by the chef for poor preparation of a well done inedible ribeye; with the waiter who was very aware of the problem with the steak I set aside and was then boxed for the duration of our meal; and also a general management failure for not checking in with our table during the entire visit where my meal was reduced to wine and fries. I give LS a very generous 3 rating for their attempts at being a special destination meal - though LS must step up their game across the board based off n my experience last night. read more

Lexington Social - The paid bill - New American Near Me - Lexington, Illinois

See all

Took forever to get our food and the steaks were undercooked. And it was VERY expensive!

Four people enjoyed a scrumptious dinner, everything outstanding with interesting seasonings and sauces, perfect preps that took time and patience for successive steps. A treat! The final luxurious touch was our own piping hot, French press of delicious decaf coffee left on our table to go with a delectable carrot cake with robust spices and rum-soaked raisins to celebrate our anniversaries. Nothing is overlooked or expedited. The ride to get to Lexington from Champaign out in the fall countryside with harvests going on was enjoyable too. We told the chef that Smile Politely just determined CU needs more fine dining and he is open to explore possibilities in downtown Champaign for a second restaurant. Thanks, Chef! read more

What a delightful foodie adventure! I must say everything we had was amazing and the sea bass and gnocchi were top of the line. The gnocchi was undoubtedly the best I've ever had. The service (by Dillon) was fun, special and just lovely. The chef visited our table. One of the finest restaurants we have enjoyed. Thank you!!!! read more

Wowwowwow! We had a great dinner here last night and can't wait to go back. John, the very charming owner, was also our server. He explained their philosophy of sourcing locally as much as possible along with creating menus with quality, in season ingredients. The unique menu changes often and is small but mighty: 3-4 starters, 4-5 entrees and a few desserts. A rarely seen in this area entree offering last night was a huge softshell crab sandwich. My husband ordered it and was impressed. I started with a tasty lemon cocktail called 'No Cats Outside'. Then Hubs and I shared a plate-lickin' worthy, roasted carrot appetizer sprinkled with bacon, a little chimichurri and 'Shazam' ;) which I believe is finely chopped, maple roasted pecans. For my entree, I went with seared salmon over smashed peas. It was delectable. Side note: neighboring tables got the HUGE steak (aka roast). I believe it was a NY strip and had to be almost 2" thick! Two big men ordered and could not finish. The historic building is really cute and comfortable. Service was great and everyone at other tables seemed very happy. We also had a perfect view into the open kitchen to see all the action -- spiffy spiffy clean and organized. Thanks Lexington Social, you are a class act, with a unique menu executed perfectly! read more

Last night my husband and I wanted a change from the B/N restaurants we frequent every Friday night so we made our way to Lexington Social. From the minute we walked in the door it was like a warm hug on a very cold night. We had never been here in the winter, it was a delightful and inviting atmosphere. There were people laughing, great music at a good volume, warm lighting, simple but well thought out decor, and a staff that moves through the restaurant like a well choreographed unpretentious dance. Our food and drinks were excellent! I had forgotten what food tastes like when you put thought, skill, and love into it. My tastebuds were dancing! Everything tasted fresh and inspired. Something that seems little, but makes a huge difference, everything was salted perfectly. Between my husband and myself we had both types of oysters on the menu, citrus salad (oh my gosh it was SO good), leek soup, marinated olives, salmon with a lovely soubise sauce, and beef tenderloin with fries. All top notch. I had an amazing cocktail ( Irish whiskey and a bunch of other yummy ingredients) and two NA dark and stormys, which were so flavorful. I must give extra credit for the NA drink selection. I often drink NA drinks at restaurants and I have found that these drinks, if there are any, never seem to have much thought put into them. That is not the case a Lexington Social, you can tell thought and effort was put into these drinks and I can tell you that this customer greatly appreciated the attention given. Thank you Lexington Social for giving us a delightful evening out and filling our eager bellies with exceptional food that was made with love and skill. The whole staff was amazing and we will be seeing much more of you! Thank you! read more

The food and service are always excellent. We've dined here multiple times and had a great experience every time. I've never had food that wasn't beautifully presented and delicious. read more

It saddens me that despite the brilliant piece of halibut I tried, I cannot In good conscious give this fine dining establishment more than 3-3.5 stars after our second visit. Visit one was early on and did NOT involve a reservation, therefore leading to our being seated out on the front porch on a slightly chili night. The 2nd visit, this week involved online resv a couple days in advance and still forced us to grab either a 5pm or 830 slot - we opted for the former and seemed to be the only customers in the place Initially. That changed over the next 30 mins by several small parties that seemed to know each other and/or the staff, making for a fun atmosphere. The setting itself was nice and bright with all the requisite white linen in this restored train depot. The beer selection is still both representative, and a tad thin, esp for a town that will soon feature the best beer bar in the county and 1, soon to be 2, breweries. The service was more than adequate, the oysters were fantastic (albeit a touch expensive), the small chunk of halibut was wonderfully cooked and tasted amazing, but the biggest detractors were the supposed 'medium' cook on the large ribeye, the time everything took to prepare and the lack of much to round out the plates in terms of complimentary vegetables or starches (esp given the small portion of fish), ultimately leaving both of us a bit hungry as we walked out. And while the chef visited and ultimately wrote off the steak, it left us both disappointed. We've heard wonderful things about the Sunday brunch, maybe the 3rd time will be the charm. Frankly it had better... read more

The best food with beautiful ambiance and top notch service. They have a wonderful menu that changes to what is available and growing in the community. Fa to table never tasted so good! read more

See all

My wife and I have eaten here maybe 6 or 7 times, so we obviously like it. This is the first time rating it. We dined on 6/28/24. We're here for an excellent dining experience, so by now, we know there's a longer wait than you'll have at other restaurants, including good ones. The building is a repurposed train depot from the 1800s. Quite beautiful. We grew up with the building in its dilapidated original form, so to see it transformed into something functional is wonderful. We started off with "sharables." I had the shrimp in a thick, paprika sauce. The shrimp were large, and the sauce was strongly spiced but not hot. Really great. My wife ordered "Kofta" (lamb meatballs) served dripping in parsley, cucumber, red onion and some other stuff. A lot of taste, but we didn't like the texture of the meatball. Almost like a meat mousse. For entrée, wit both ordered crab pasta. They were out. So, she ordered Raviolo and I got the Coulotte (having no idea what that was). Turns out is a nice cut of beef. In this case, well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. I can very much recommend. The side of crispy potatoes in a béarnaise sauce was also quite good. No tiny portions here. My wife's raviolo was also good she says. I like to drink kolsh (type of German beer) which they serve at Lexington Social. I really look forward to it just as much as the food. It's served in a smaller 5 oz glass. I drank my first, ordered another and...they were out. They had a Bavarian lager to substitute. Final analysis, excellent food, nice atmosphere, but prepare to be disappointed when they run out of stuff. They're better at cuisine than inventory. read more

We went for Sunday brunch. Service was professional. Bright and cheery space with interesting art. Bloody Mary was well made and moderately spicy. Eggs Benedict with soft shell crab was a pleasant surprise in central Illinois. Crispy potatoes were especially good. Well-seasoned and fluffy inside. Will definitely return. read more

What a hidden gem!!! I have heard about and read about this place and we finally tried it. Lexington is a bit of a drive, but it is 100% worth it! The inside is gorgeous and so comfie. Jon was incredible and gives so much background to each decision that is made for this experience. The food is spectacular and absolutely delicious. Do NOT miss out on a dessert - our table ordered 2 and split them. We will definitely keep supporting this fantastic place. Bon appetit! read more

See all

Best restaurant in the Bloomington-Normal area. Quality of product and cookery is second to none in the upscale dining category.

Thoroughly enjoyed dinner at Lexington Social. This is a small town and certainly ch3cks the box if you want locally owned vs chain. Service was friendly and good vibes. Food menu is limited but they were excellent. Two tips: be prepared for a little bit of a wait. Food takes a while to cook but not to the point that it is inconvenient. The other is that they market themselves as a 'casual' dining experience. I felt very under dressed. This is definitely being treated as a fine dining establishment by the folks that eat there. read more

Incredible meal. Sublime cocktails. Impeccable service. A fresh changing menu. Just can't say enough good things.

Took the short drive out to Lexington Social tonight for an early Mother's Day dinner! It was an amazingly fun experience! The staff and owners were so friendly, the cocktails were unique and the food was delicious! Hands down one of the best meals I've ever had! (I had the Farm Roasted Chicken) Don't walk....RUN and go check out this gem! Support local and give your tastebuds a wonderful experience! read more

Beware: not handicap accessible (5 steps into building). My 93 year old mother had to be almost carried in (we are not from IL, but isn't there a law about this?). Anyway, food was awesome, but had to wait 90 minutes for food and A/C wasn't able to keep up with the heat (I guess) so very warm (upstairs would have been intolerable). Atmosphere is clean but not warm. I would give the food a 5, but everything else a 2...so averaged to a 3. read more

We had waited a long time to try this place, all the while hearing nothing but rave reviews. We finally visited tonight for our anniversary. Everything was amazing and I don't say that often about any restaurant. Fresh local ingredients, prepared to perfection, attentive service, and a relaxed and funky dining room. Fine dining , but not a stuffy place at all. We will be back. read more

Small menu but it was good and the service was also attentive and appropriate. There was a time limit on the tables. The steak was cooked appropriately, the oysters were good but a bit on the small side but hey this is the Midwest. Small wine list and small beer list. read more

Beautiful spot and quality dishes, exciting for a small town Fairly standard menu, but they do the classics well

This place is adorable and we will definitely be back! The interior design and accents are charming and inviting. Small menu for food and cocktails, which was part of the experience. We had the peri peri chicken and salmon. Both excellent. The Pavette Cabernet was the only red wine option but fantastic. My husband had an old fashioned, he said it was made very well. Our servers Jess and Tony were very personable and attentive. They were understaffed, as most restaurants currently are, and running the whole front of the restaurant, with the hostesses help. They all worked together flawlessly and we appreciated their positive attitudes even while they were swamped. We didn't feel rushed and were able to enjoy the evening. This little gem is worth the drive from Bloomington!! read more

New restaurant in Lexington headed by one half of the legendary 2 Blokes and a Bus chefs Jon Fritzen. Getting a restaurant started during a pandemic is tough stuff but the high end food should win over enough customers to survive. This place offers a niche of fine dining in a casual atmosphere your palate will love. I tried the fish tacos during their soft opening and they were as excellent as I remember from the Blokes. Hours are currently limited to Friday and Saturday nights and brunch on Sunday. Just finished a Friday night dinner I opted for the grilled chicken with fresh green beans that had a nice twist with grilled peaches and feta cheese was excellent. Wife and daughter had the fish and chips which were good size filets with an excellent batter. My other daughter tried the hand cut tagliafelle pasta which looked great and her plate was empty satisfied customer. Oh almost forgot the Island Creek oysters for starters right here in little ole Lexington this stuff is great! Hopefully you'll give this place a try reservations are recommended with the current limited seating. Can't wait to try the brunch on Sundays. read more

See all

Lexington Social is a sincere and passionate restaurant located in the charming town of Lexington, IL. Every aspect of the restaurant, food, and service is a result of the Jon and Greg's commitment to the highest level of care for guests. The food and cocktails are thoughtfully and laboriously prepared, making them both superior and approachable. If you want, you can go in, eat, and leave, and you will love every drink and bite. However, we opted to ask about how the food was prepared and the evolution of the restaurant, and, in those answers, we were able to find the magic and poetry Lexington Social has to offer every type of guest. We live in Normal, but this is our new favorite restaurant. Lexington Social, thank you for bringing such a special place close to home. read more

Amazing food, great selection. Love the venue. Jon did so much work to renovate the building. A great addition to Main Street. Tonight's salmon was WONDERFUL. Breakfast is consistently good. Greg's cocktails are quite innovative. Opening this place during the pandemic must have been quite a challenge but it seems to be thriving. read more

This place is amazing. The French toast is awesome! Very cute and adorable place, barn doors, absolutely cool design.

Dinner was phenomenal...very delicious! We had the bread/butter for an appetizer and really enjoyed it... My husband had the NY Strip for dinner and said it was "amazing"...I had the whole chicken with seasonal veg and was the most flavorful chicken I've eaten. Dessert and drinks were on point as well...the lemon cake and mocha tort were yum yum yum! read more

Limited selection of food, but good quality. Bit pricey for dinners, breakfast/brunch good but also a bit pricey. Friendly staff and courteous. read more

Lexington Social is a special place!!! First visit shared the pate and pepperade, both of which came with delicious homemade crusty bread and were well done appetizers. Cocktails were unique and delicious! Had the half chicken dinner which I loved, perfectly cooked and seasoned, super hearty satisfying entree. BF got Chicken Sandwich special and enjoyed it too! Second visit got take out, everything was packaged well and tried the tomato salad, delicata donuts, and gnocchi. Everything was amazing and stayed hot/not soggy even though it traveled back to Normal. Love that they partner with local businesses and do plenty of local food. read more

Definitely a staple in central Illinois. Every time I've been here, I have loved it. I've only tried the breakfast but I've tried different menu items. Everything has been delicious! The bacon is to die for! Can't wait to try dinner! read more

I had a great experience at Lexington Social. We made reservations. When we arrived we were escorted to the bar while our table was readied. The bartender explained every cocktail thoroughly and we ordered amazingly crafted cocktails. We were seated shortly after and our cocktails were delivered promptly. As soon as we were seated our waitress explained the menu choices and we ordered some amazing appetizers. Shortly after the appetizers arrived we made our main course meal selection all explained thoroughly by our waitress. There were just a few choices to make because they have a solid minimal menu. All courses were amazing. We ate drank and had great conversation all while being attended to constantly. I had the best ribeye I've ever had at a restaurant and my wife had the amazing chicken. It was expensive but on our way out we were questioned by the. Staff to make sure everything was perfect. It was. I'm looking forward to going back as the menu changes. Amazing experience. Thank you Lexington Social. We even tried a lemon cake desert that was top notch. Great experience. Highly recommend! read more

This place is excellent! Everything we ordered was delicious, but we were very impressed by the roast carrot starter-- we couldn't figure out all the components, but they were so smoky and good! We are excited to try brunch in the future. read more

We had a wonderful breakfast and the service was friendly and attentive. I highly recommend the Biscuit Sammie, it was rich and delicious! The breakfast Poutine was also very good but it would be better with the traditional cheese curds or another firmer cheese. The atmosphere is stylish and well maintained. We'll be back soon. read more

Went for a celebratory dinner last night. The owner was our waiter and provided very helpful and advice and suggestions. The atmosphere was cozy but tables were nicely spaced. This was our first indoor dining experience in over a year and I really wanted to pick someplace special. Mission accomplished! The service was exceptional and the food was fantastic! We started with the bread and a half of oysters. The sourdough was perfectly baked with a dark crust and shattering crunch. The oysters - sublime. Perfectly shucked (no bits of shell) and Britney with a rose mignonette and a hot sauce accompaniment. The mignonette was my favorite and perfectly accented the taste of ocean from the oysters. My husband had the steak dinner and while he loved his steak and went on about the perfectly charred crust on the steak, he practically swooned over the crispy potatoes. I had the crispy skinned Ora salmon that was perfection on the pea mash and braised French breakfast radishes. The house concocted cocktails we chose were delicious as well. Dessert was lovely as well, a lemon cake and turtle cheesecake, which we enjoyed at home later in the evening. Be advised - the steak is huge!. Next time, we'll go for the full order of oysters. read more

This is a welcome and refreshing foodie venture! So excited to have this minimalist be casual or dressy spot open up. They are friendly and figuring it all out during so much restrictions so kudos to them. The food was great for dinner, had the fish and chips and my friend had the pasta, both were terrific. The lemon and chocolate desserts are the only two and they were so well done and delicious that there is truly no need for another! read more