Fat Man Reviews K.
Yelp
On our way to a concert, the Fat Man stopped at Coles 735 Main in Lexington, KY. Coles is an eclectic, locally sourced New American cuisine served in a circa-1938 restaurant space. @coles735main
We both decided on the same drink, the Black-eyed Buffalo. This libation is made with Buffalo Trace, Gifford Mure blackberry liqueur, Domaine Canton, ginger liqueur and lemon. It is Bourbon up front but is mellowed by the blackberry, ginger, and lemon finish the drink. It has a good balance, but the ginger liqueur gives it a slightly watery taste.
We started with the Pork Tostadas, which come with braised pork, corn tortillas, toasted poblano sour cream, iceberg lettuce, pickled red onion, cotija cheese, and cilantro. The tortilla is very crunchy; the pork is juicy, tender, and flavorful with some slight heat. A squeeze of lime gives it a nice fresh bite. The lettuce cuts through the heat, the pickled red onion adds a vinegar bite with texture, and the cheese adds a saltiness.
I tried the special of the day; Pastrami Braised Short Ribs. This is prepared with house-made kimchi, wasabi-washed mashed potatoes, mustard demi-glace, and charred Broccolini. The short ribs are heavily pepper crusted with good flavor and smoke; some bites are dry, while others are very juicy. The Broccolini is crunchy and seasoned well, the potatoes are very smooth, but I do not get the wasabi flavor, and the kimchi is very acidic and salty with a decent heat. It is powerful but fits well with the short ribs. The mustard reduction has a good flavor, but I wanted more mustard pop with a larger serving.
My fiancé tried the center cut Filet Mignon, red pepper roasted Weisenberger grits, and house-made compound butter. The grits are presented tater tot style, flavorful with a slight crunch and velvety smooth on the inside and a touch of heat; the butter adds a lovely silkiness to the steak, but the steak was so tender it was the very definition of melt-in-your-mouth..
Coles offers a handcrafted menu with several starters, salads, and entrées. I recommend a reservation. The service was not bad. The Fat Man says Coles 735 Main is Fat Man Approved with 2 chins.