Dudley's On Short

Dudley's Rooftop is THE quintessential elegant dining experience. We hosted a family celebration that was magical. The service was impeccable. The food was extraordinary. A family tradition we adore. Thank you, Dudley's🌟

A large group of us came here on a weeknight for a business dinner. The staff was very helpful and accommodating. The restaurant is very nicely decorated and the architecture has been beautiful restored. Their menu was filled with amazing southern-inspired dishes, it was hard to decide what to get. They have a nice cocktail and wine list too. The dishes I ended up with were both from their nightly specials, one being split pea soup. I love a good split pea soup, it’s just hard to find and their was spot-on what I desire! Especially on a cold, windy evening! The entrée I chose was a barramundi done Cajun style and it was also prepared quite nicely and flavorful, though I did have to spike it up with a little Tabasco sauce. Save room for dessert – they offer some amazing options, such as their daily cake, in this case it was chocolate cake with orangesicle icing and it was moist and delicious! Overall, highly recommend stopping in, especially for groups and/or business dinners!

Spent the last week enjoying the bourbon trail. Our final, and best, meal was at Dudley’s! Our server Luke was very friendly, attentive and gave great recommendations. He deserves a shout out; Thanks Luke! Both the NY strip and fillet were delicious and prepared perfectly. The Korean cauliflower was a great appetizer as well. The other staff were also very friendly and attentive! Thanks for a great send off!

We came for a Christmas Eve lunch on our Kentucky vacation and the food was delicious. We had baked oysters, and beef filet and short rib entrees with the tastiest jam cake. The service was attentive, top notch. A proper cocktail menu and the atmosphere was so festive and cozy. This historic place feels more like a residence more than a restaurant. There was something homey about it which made it perfect for a holiday away from home. This is fine dining at its best in downtown Lexington.

Top Notch. We were referred here by a friend that lives in Lex. and this is her go to. One of the best steaks I have had. Service was excellent, and the atmosphere is perfect for a quiet dinner. A must place to dine in Lexington!!

Wonderful ambiance, food and service. I was lucky enough to experience the French toast special. The best I have had in my entire life!

With elegant English-themed décor that pays homage to Kentucky's equestrian and racing heritage, Dudley's is a fantastic spot to enjoy afternoon tea or a classic Southern breakfast. I especially love the breakfast potatoes—they're perfectly crispy with a wonderfully infused garlic flavour.

Excellent atmosphere, it was busy yet service was prompt! I had the special, Red Snapper and succotash, and it was out of this world. I will warn many of you, you’ll fall head over heels if you’re lucky enough to have Zara as your server. A mix of humor, sass, wit, and beauty!!

Dudley's in Lexington is a true five-star gem and a historic staple in the town. The moment you walk in, you're greeted with a warm, inviting atmosphere that perfectly blends tradition and elegance. The menu is outstanding, offering a delightful array of dishes that showcase both creativity and classic flavors. The service is impeccable, with staff who go above and beyond to ensure a memorable dining experience. Whether you're enjoying a casual meal or celebrating a special occasion, Dudley's consistently delivers exceptional quality and charm. Highly recommended for anyone looking to experience the best of Lexington!

This was a mixed-bag experience. The seating and lighting were comfortable, but the noise was quite unnerving. Thumping music from across the street flowed in, and added to the customer conversations it was almost impossible to hear our waitperson, Cayla. She was very friendly, but very hard to hear. Not her fault, the room was just too big and competing with outside noises. We ordered the Goat Cheese to start, while we looked over the menu. As we waited on the goat cheese, we ordered two more appetizers... the Tuna Tartar and the Korean Fried Cauliflower. The tartar and cauliflower arrived and both were exceptional. The tartar presentation on the unique expanded rice cracker was beautiful. As we finished them, we had to remind Cayla that we had ordered the goat cheese. The goat cheese finally arrived, but this one got only mediocre adoration from the three of us at the table. It was good, not special, and quite a small portion compared to the other two appetizers. Cayla told us about several specials that were being offered. Honestly, we could barely hear them. I caught "mussels and pasta" as one of them, and asked her to describe that particular special again. Once again, no one at the table could hear anything other than "mussels" and "pasta". But I thought... what the heck, so I ordered that special since I love mussels. The two other patrons at my table both ordered the Steak Frites (New York Strips). Sadly, our waitperson returned about 5 minutes later to inform me that the mussels and pasta special was no longer available!! Seriously? A restaurant of this caliber should have a better handle on communication with staff when items are close to being 86'd. Disappointed, I simply ordered the menu's only other pasta dish, Pasta Dudley. When the entrees arrived, I was given no silverware to eat my meal with! So I waited until I could flag down a waitperson to get me some. On the plus side, my friends who ordered the Steak Frites both loved their dishes. In fact, one of them commented that it was the best New York Strip he had had in a very long time. I tasted a piece and had to agree. Delicious. My pasta on the other hand was a big disappointment. The chicken was dry and I don't believe the advertised fennel was included in the dish, but then the sun-dried tomatoes overpowered everything else so it was hard to tell. It was about as rewarding as a pasta dish from Denny's... completely underwhelming. One of the patrons at my table ordered a bourbon drink and did not like it. He asked if it would be possible to exchange it for another drink, stressing to Cayla that if an exchange wasn't possible, he'd understand and keep the drink he had. We were told that exchanging it was not an issue. Then, when the check arrived, we were charged for both drinks. We simply paid for both, but it was another disappointment. While the good outweighed the bad, as a whole, the dinner was not the experience that its price point implied it would be. I was left wondering how many people might be convinced this was sophisticated dining. Dudley' suffers by not being mediocre or excellent. It sells itself as something it isn't. Hopefully, it finds its voice, or that our experience wasn't the norm.

My sister has made a reservation for my bachelorette party here. We walked in and they had a table ready which was awesome. This is a nicer place for sure, white tablecloths and dressed up wait staff. Service was great all night and food and drinks were pretty quick. I loved the brightness of the place, maybe it was the large windows but I hate eating in the dark! This was perfect. Now, the food. Wow. We ended up splitting a couple appetizers - curry cauliflower, baked goat cheese, broccolini, brussel sprout salad. They are very generous with their servings and everything was SO GOOD. We got the s'mores dessert which I'm still dreaming about, it was the star of the show, and ended with their house made lemon cello. There wasn't one thing I tried that I didn't love. Props to the chef, it was phenomenal. Great experience and highly recommend as a nice dinner if you're visiting.

One of my favorite restaurants in Lexington, and best brunch in town. I need to get around to eating dinner here soon as it's been many years since I've done so. I've never been disappointed by a meal I've had here, but the eggs benedict is phenomenal and their quiches are always delicious. Service is consistently good although it can get pretty busy, love the decor of the restaurant and all the racing memorabilia on the walls. Prices are reasonable in my opinion, especially for the quality of the food, and the rotating selection of biscuits/muffins they offer before your meal are always appreciated.

We went for our Anniversary lunch, our server was kind and knowledgeable, went over the specials of the day didn't rush us through ordering appetizers or our mains. Everything tasted great, my favorite was the lox, I could have eaten 2 plates of these alone. The hot brown was tasty but missing something in the sauce, pretty bland. The dining rooms are amazing, I definitely hope to come back and be seated in one of the cozier rooms, we were seated in the bar area. On my way to the ladies room I was awestruck by two antique pieces of 'furniture'; one was a massive grand buffet, and the other was an amazing chest of some sort, I'm kicking myself for not getting photos of these pieces. I've even looked through Yelp review photos hoping someone had posted these. Restrooms were clean and well stocked, very clean restaurant overall.

I recently had lunch here with a friend. She had the fruit plate while I had a burger. Both of our meals were good, the service was good (even if not real friendly) and the atmosphere was wonderful. The dining room might have been the best part of the meal. I would give this restaurant five stars if it weren't for the menu prices. We all know that eating out has become more expensive in this post-COVID era, but $19.00 for a hamburger? No, it wasn't that good.

Reserve a table at Dudley's for a special occasion. There were a few small graduation parties the night we were there. The decor is warm and elegant with nice lighting and comfortable seating. Our entrees were good but I wasn't crazy about the warm goat cheese appetizer or wilted brussel sprout salad - possibly just not good choices on my part. Keene, our server, was professional and attentive but not intrusive, suggesting a nice wine selection. The steak was flavorful and tender and the chocolate dessert was awesome!

Such a neat experience. Service was amazing, everyone was very friendly and welcoming. The appetizers were subpar: we got the bacon beignets and the trout dip. Beignets were not traditional but still delicious. The lettuce on the trout dip was old and soggy but the dip itself was pretty good. Main entrees and cocktails were all really good.

Date night! We started off with the best crab cake I have ever eaten and a baked goat cheese laden with local lavender honey and pistachios hot in a skillet. For entrees we had the duck and tournedos. The cook on both was why Dudley's gets a four instead of five. The duck was slightly overcooked but the fat hadn't been rendered enough. That being said, the confit duck in rice and accompanying veg were delish! The tournedos with crab meat were slightly more well than medium; however again, accompanying mashed potatoes and sauce were stunning. The ambience is perfect for a date night. It's in a beautiful spot on downtown with plenty of street parking , lot parking and garage parking nearby. On this day in particular, because the weather was so nice, the doors were also wide open allowing for beautiful fresh air during our meal. Service was excellent and quick. We will be back especially for that delicious decadent crab cake. Truly the best we've had in town!

Traveled to Lexington for a family wedding. A group of us met for lunch & it was great! They even accommodated those who were dropped off with luggage in tow! And aside from enjoying the food & atmosphere we all discovered how pretty Lexington is! This is definitely Kentucky & everything is themed as such. Pretty much everyone ordered something different. We were given great biscuits & scones while waiting for our appetizers & ordered drinks. One if the appetizers we got were the Bacon Beignets - we weren't expecting the eggy interior but they could've made a great breakfast by themselves. Also ordered were the Dudley Eggs - you can never go wrong with those. Two of us ordered the Kentucky Classic Sandwich w/house made potato chips which was really good! The special of the day was a hash with beef & I was told it was really good. My niece really enjoyed her Dudley Pasta (very lemony was what she liked best about it) & my nephew ordered Da'Burger which was a hit. Tho I didn't try the Ceasar Salad or the KY Hot Brown, they looked fantastic. Definitely worth putting this on your list of places to try!

If Dudley's is a high-end restaurant, the food my party had on June 6th sure did not live up to its reputation. While our server was excellent, more than one of the 8 people in our party was sorely disappointed in the food. The Hot Brown, as commented by one person in our party, was just not good. The Caesar salad mediocre and not a good quality restaurant salad. The crab cake was bland and the grits accompanying it added nothing. Very disappointed in Dudley's.

Food was lukewarm at best and little flavor ... in and out in less than an hour ...had drinks, appetizers and entree...won't go back

I've always liked Dudley's, but the other night was not good. The steak in my steak frites was really low quality -- full of gristle. Kroger has prime strip steak for $16 and is way better. The one good thing was that the service was excellent, and the ambience, as always, is really nice (in the bar area).

Great date night spot! We started off with complimentary yeast rolls and they were incredible. The smoked trout deviled eggs were a unique appetizer, would recommend! My steak frites was just okay but I will absolutely come back and try something different. Overall enjoyable experience.

Came here because of DDD. The atmosphere was good, nice music selection. Staff was friendly, though my waitress was more interested in talking to her friends at the next table than checking on her section. However, the food was wonderful, and I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a nice date night place.

We had a beautiful brunch at Dudley's. It is the type of menu and atmosphere that is a classic with great service as the cherry on top.

Walking into Dudley's feels like walking into a John Grisham novel--I thought I was about to meet opposing counsel for a business lunch! This is an upscale southern restaurant in downtown Lexington. The restaurant is in an old bank building, so the architecture and decor are elegantly old school. The deviled eggs with trout were very tasty, as was the Brussels sprout salad (served warm). The Kentucky Hot Brown was really good--affordable and delicious. It is a warm sandwich with a cheese sauce that is eaten with a knife and fork. Unfortunately, the Dudley's pasta was not very good. It needed a sauce, as the noodles under the top layer of grated cheese and vegetables were just oily/dry. I recommend ordering something else from the menu, however there are not vegetarian options.

Came for lunch for the hot brown. It looked like a lot of food. Some of us had it. They seemed to enjoy it. I had the eggs Benedict. I loved it. The perfectly poached egg atop of a nice juicy tomato on a tasty ham on a crunchy english muffin. the Hollandaise did not drain all over. It enabled me to really taste the wonderful tomato. And I'm not a big tomato fan.

Came here before a show. The service was good but if you are paying the cost per plate you would think the waitstaff knew the fundamentals of dropping plates and pick up. Waiter had to read the specials since he didn't know by heart. Food was only ok to me. The deviled eggs were there best but everything else didn't have a lot of flavors. Scallops just tasted like butter. Great location and pretty ambiance.

Delicious Sunday morning brunch on our last day in Lexington, Ky. Highly recommend making a reservation for the weekend as it can get pretty busy and packed. The service was great. The staff was friendly and attentive. What we ordered: Appetizer: Bacon Beignets (best we ever had!) Entree: Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Biscuit with Sausage Gravy, Fried Egg, and Crisp Potatoes (mouth watering good, especially after a night of drinking . Potatoes were a bit too salty for our liking) Dessert: Lemon Olive Oil Cake (unique and surprisingly delightful taste)

Great service and new chef that made this a great experience! Had the seasonal menu items. 3 course meal for $39.

Fantastic food and service! Great place for date night, after a ballgame or Keeneland.

Rather high end, decor is*SUPRISE* horse racing. Really good food, I had the KY Hot and was very happy seeing KY was Kentucky and not jelly. Grandson had the burger-loved it. As funny as this may sound the tomatoes on his burger and I open faced Sammy was outstanding. They had to have been home grown, store tomatoes don't taste like that anymore.

Thank you so much! We are Dudley fans! Have been coming here for years. Service and menu is outstanding. Today, last year we celebrated a 20th birthday, today we celebrated 21. Corey is an outstanding server. The roof top dining is a must!! The ambiance on the roof top is exquisite. Thanks, Dudley's!

Exceptional!!! Great service. The oysters were so good we had two orders. I ordered the Hot Brown and it did not disappoint. The presentation was beautiful especially for the Heart salads which was a part of the special...I don't come to Lexington often but would definitely do Dudley's again.

Solid food, old school look and feel. Close to campus. Waiter was good. Would go back.

A nice elegant restaurant in downtown Lexington. Serves nice cocktails and mimosas for brunch. The food, eh, it's alright. I suppose when one of your most popular dishes is deviled eggs, oh excuse me Dudley's eggs, we shouldn't expect much, and Dudley's certainly underwhelmed. I mean come on, if you're gonna put it out there make sure it's better than Aunt Sue's deviled eggs at the family reunion. Maybe shave some truffles on it. Saturday brunch, not many people there despite the pretty good reviews. The staff was nice, our waiter was new and didn't know much about the specials. Thankfully they had a sign on the sidewalk listing their specials. Nothing looked interesting or novel. Big salads, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, oh excuse me pasta Dudley's, salmon and Kentucky's favorite the hot Brown. If I never see another menu with the infamous hot brown it'll be too soon. If you're a tourist reading this, if you see the hot brown coming your way give it a wide berth. A party of 7, someone had a salad, a sandwich, a burger, the pasta Dudley and the Hot Brown (not me). Nothing stood out except for the pasta and not in a good way. Watery and almost soup like and bland as an unsalted cracker. If you're downtown Lexington stop by Dudley's for a cocktail or two then head on over to Jeff Ruby's for a great steak.

Had dinner with friends here on Friday night. We could not have been happier. I had the hot brown special and the whole table tried it, and loved it. Others had the Halibut and raved about it. The service is what truly stood out. Our server, Celeste, was flawless. Friendly, informative, and efficient. Never needed a thing, but never interjected herself either. The manager, Heath, heard about our gathering, came to greet us, answer questions and make suggestions. That man knows cuisine and cocktails. Try the Old Fashioned with his name. You will be glad you did. Last, I loved it so much I went the next night and sat out front. Lucky enough to get Celeste again, and everything was, again, perfect.

Beautiful, old Kentucky restaurant with a great vibe. Delicious brunch - perfect classic Benedict and wonderful non-traditional versions. Sat at bar and had awesome drinks and great service from Sophie. Entire staff was cheerful and helpful. Sophie helped us plan an upcoming vacation to Spain! 5 stars - we will be back!

Really nice interior with an upscale environment in an old bank building. Many interesting pictures on the walls and a few of horses, go figure. Service was very good and our waiter was very nice and well trained. The cocktails and large wine list are really top notch. The menu is very interesting with some daily specials, thou they were out of one special item by the time we were there. Some interesting starters, we had the firecracker shrimp which were cooked perfectly and had a sweet and spice glaze. Our group had a variety of entrees and the scallops, roasted chicken breast. Tournedos Maxell and the steak frites were all enjoyed. We had few deserts and one with a bourbon chocolate ball cake was the big hit of the night. If you are looking for a fun more upscale restaurant in downtown, try Dudley's.

Excellent find in downtown Lexington. When you walk in you know it will be a great night with the atmosphere. Had the ahi tuna and house salad. The service was perfect.

Really enjoyed my Sunday brunch at Dudley's - the place was clean, nice and really touched the heritage of Lexington with all the decor. We were definitely a little under dressed for brunch as some folks were there with ties and suit jackets - but we did not receive different service which was great. We did have a hard time knowing if we could get a table - we could not make a reservation on Open Table, so we called to see if they could take 5, they said no they could not. Then we walked by the restaurant and decided to go ask in person - when we did that they said yes they can seat us. Upon going in the place was very empty which was confusing. Besides this miss-hap we enjoyed the food, drinks and atmosphere. A couple of us opted for the specials of the day and they were so good! It was great that each person at the table got a chocolate chip muffin as a "free" appetizer, we also opted for the bacon beignets and some coffees - it was disappointing that there was no milk alternative for the coffees however. Our main meals were cooked perfectly and VERY flavorful. They were really accommodative to removing certain ingredients from any of the meals to address dietary preferences. Definitely will be back next time I am in Lexington and will probably dress a little nicer next time :)

Food Fun Adventure Weekend took Fat Man Reviews to Dudley's on Short in Lexington, KY. Dudley's is a Lexington staple and a self-described "culinary trailblazer" specializing in using the finest local ingredients with exceptional service. We started with the Weisenberger Grits & Beer Cheese Fritters, served with hot pepper jelly. The fritters were cooked well with a slight crunch, the beer cheese was good, but it was just a very mild beer cheese. The pepper jelly was sweet and added a spice but could have used more. I tried the Roasted Carrot Bisque. It was creamy and prepared well and packed full of fall spices. The whipped cream did not add much in my opinion. The dish was fixed exactly as I imagined, but did not work well for me, however, my fiancé thought it was good. My fiancé had the Sunday Supper special. It included warm mushroom and radicchio salad, roasted pork loin, sage and cornbread stuffing, candied sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce. I did not try the salad, but she loved it. The rest of the dish was amazing. The pork was juicy and perfect, stuffing was moist and delicious, the potatoes were fluffy and sweet while the cranberry sauce added a tartness to round out the entire dish. I decided on the Swordfish special. The meal came with caramelized sweet potato purée, roasted cabbage, charred onions, bourbon raisins and smoked cream. The swordfish was cooked and seasoned well, and the purée was sweet to cut through the fattiness of the fish. The onions and cabbage were prepared perfect, buttery, nutty and slightly sweet. The smoked cream was okay but slightly thin. My meal was missing the raisins. For dessert, we tried the Poached Apple & Spice Cake. The apple was cooked well, and it tasted like a Granny Smith. The cake was awesome, it was moist, and the spice level was lovely. It was served with mulled wine & bergamot caramel, vanilla labnah and toasted meringue that offered a sweet, salty, tangy and sticky flavor roller coaster. This dish was superb. Dudley's on Short offers steakhouse favorites and out of the box creations in a small menu. The service is great and very attentive. Dudley's on Short is Fat Man Approved and recommend.

Full disclosure...I worked at the former location of Dudley's a zillion years ago. I always loved their food back then. I don't get to visit often since I don't live in Lexington, but it is always an awesome experience with incredible food. We last visited on May 2, so I'm a little behind. My wife had steak frites. I don't recall the name of my dish, but they were both excellent. The same owner, Debbie, from back in the days when I worked there was there during our visit, and she is such a perfect person to allow this place to have such long-term success. Dudley's being so close to the home of University of Kentucky basketball, Rupp Arena, I had to gratuitously get my University of Louisville face make in the picture of my dish. You're welcome, UK fans I highly recommend you check out this place!

Had a wonderful experience with the owner and bar staff. We had a reservation and was seated promptly. However, we found the dining room to be very loud and we were unable to have a conversation. The owner of Dudley's accommodated us and we sat at the bar. Our bartenders were pleasant, knew the menu and offered wonderful recommendations from the Bourbon to the food! It truly was a pleasure! Highly recommend!

We sat outside on a cool, sunny afternoon enjoying people watching and great food. We started with delicious muffins, possibly white chocolate and cranberry? Light, fluffy, fabulous. Then my husband had the "Buddha bowl" which contained couscous, nuts, onion, golden raisins, and parsley, so good he kept murmuring. I had quiche, a big wedge filled with spinach, asparagus tomatoes, & onions in a pastry crust that was among the best I've ever tasted. It came with a side salad topped with vinaigrette. Service was excellent! We highly recommend Dudley's On Short for a super meal!

It was a really nice restaurant Located in a really fancy and nice area Really classic and wonderful I could not love it more I need to come back if I got a second chance People who are dine in here are really classic and elegant please do make a reservation sometimes they can get very hot

Not the best night at Dudley's. Most expensive thing on the menu, a bone in rib eye at $54 was full of gristle and very thin. It was perhaps the worst stake I have ever had......anywhere. We had a party of six and another member of our party did not eat her undercooked strip. May not go back to what has been one of my favorites. Service was fine. Eddie R.

This restaurant is so charming with very friendly staff. Came here for brunch with friends. Overall, we enjoyed the frittata and quiche. I thought the broccoli, caramelized onion, and cheddar cheese quiche was ok. It was slightly warm (wished it was warmer) and could have used more seasoning and more cheese. Broccoli seemed to be shredded within the quiche, no florets. The main flavor came from the onion. While the quiche was ok, the side salad it came with was light, perfectly dressed, and refreshing. Shared a side of potatoes that were outstanding. Crisp on the outside and well seasoned. The coffee was good and went well with the generous bread plate of banana bread, biscuit, scone, and blueberry muffins.

Nicholas was our waiter for the evening and he did a wonderful job!! Food was amazing but the service was perfect.

I've dined at Dudley's before and never had a bad experience. It's an upscale experience with entrees ranging from $20-$40. The staff is always so attentive and the food is delicious. I ordered the TG salad and the Tournedos Maxwell. We also got wine for the table. The steak was cooked perfectly and everything came out hot. I would highly recommend dudleys for a special occasion or treat to your college student in Lexington.

Definitely recommend going there if you are looking for a fancy restaurant & delicious food. Everything we ordered was so good! Instagram: @foodbytiana

Perhaps it was simply a "Blue Monday" for Dudley. The service was excellent. But, here's the blue stuff: The fried Calamari: The "breading" was crisp and warm, but inside, all that, you could barely taste/find the calamari. The Duck Confit with crisp, sweet potatoes and creamy sauce: The duck was hidden under a heavy, flavorless gravy that covered up the potatoes. Very sorry to say, it was a messy tasteless, uninteresting dish. Halibut: Excellent fresh fish, but unnecessarily overcooked, cold/luke, and situated on a dense package of red chard that a knife couldn't even cut. The sauce was gravy-like and flavorless. Perhaps the dish had been prepared too early. Very unattractive and hard to eat. Tournedos: It looked delicious. The guest liked it but said the dish was somewhat lukewarm.

My husbands plate of food was good, I'd say the Dudley's pasta that I chose with peas and carrots, pickled onions and sun dried tomatoes should be skipped. Our main issue was the rude waitress, Maddie... she would have the waitress in training do 90% of her work at her tables, then briefly come to our table just to give us attitude. She would argue about the way we wanted our drinks and generally just had a level of sass I've never experienced from a waitress. She was also very unfamiliar with the menu and had to read all of the specials from her notepad. When paying the Dudley's price tag, you at least want the service to be friendly

We have had good experiences here before but it was not the case this time. I don't know whether it was the waiter or the kitchen but out of a party of six, two entrees were literally cold and had to be sent back and the rest were brought to the table lukewarm as though everything had set a good while after being made. Two drinks were not what we asked for and had to be remade. The food had a good flavor but the service was just not stellar.

My wife and I came here for Valentine's Day dinner, and we had a great experience. With any public holiday, expect a select menu, but the food was terrific. They also had a great selection of cocktails, and our waiter was very attentive and was able to answer all our questions or get the answer immediately. I knew this place was big but didn't expect there to be upstairs which was amazing as we were seated almost immediately. The bread basket that was brought round was very fresh, but a tad bit salty for my wife. However, it was perfectly paired with their salt for my taste. Our appetizers and entrees were delicious and overall I had a great meal with an even better experience.

My husband and I have never been to Dudley's and decided to splurge for Valentine's Day. I didn't realize this but they do have an upstairs which is where we were seated. The ambiance there was different, more quiet and romantic than downstairs. They had a special menu for Valentine's Day, you could pick from a few appetizer, entree and dessert options. The bread basket in the beginning of the meal was fun, there were a couple of options to choose from, I went with the focaccia, but it was a tad too salty. As for my meal, I chose the salmon tartar for my appetizer, scallops with cauliflower as an entree (it was a bit oily for my taste) and the chocolate tarts for dessert (loved the cookie crust!). Chocolate truffles to finish off the meal were an excellent touch! I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a date night spot.

For the past 2 years my boyfriend has made plans for us to have New Years Eve dinner at Dudley's on Short. The restaurant always goes above and beyond for the occasion to make make sure it is memorable by having NYE props available (Hats, masks, noisemakers, etc) in addition to a special NYE menu! The service is always as exceptionally excellent as is the creative menu and the outstanding quality of the dishes prepared! This year I had an unforgettable beet dish in lieu of a salad (which I'm still trying to figure out how they made) and the most incredible sea scallops as my main. The scallops were huge (silver dollar size), oh so tender with a delicate braised "crust"! Although it was a very busy evening, we were waited on as if we were the only patrons in the restaurant. The hostess even accommodated our last minute request for a table change from the main dining area, where our reserved table was located, to a table in their bar area. It was a thoroughly delightful meal and atmosphere! Happy New Year!

The Veal Chop was excellent. Enjoyed our dinner at Dudley's very much. I recommend this restaurant when in town.

We had a wonderful dinner at Dudley's on our first trip to Lexington! My friend made all reservations for the weekend and I merrily went along with the plans. We had drinks next door at Parlay Social first, where I enjoyed the house cocktail, "The Parlay," very much indeed. I mention this because the two spots are connected - you just walk right through into Dudley's. I didn't know until the next day that Dudley's has a rooftop bar or else we would have gone there! Regardless, Parlay Social was great for a pre-dinner drink. Their bourbon selection is fantastic. We were promptly seated at Dudley's in one of the main dining rooms and quickly greeted by our server. We swiftly ordered appetizers - the chicken skins and the Dudley eggs. I don't enjoy deviled eggs, but my dinner mates really enjoyed Dudley's. I also enjoyed the chicken skins, although if I ever order them again, I will ask for the honey to be held back. None of us enjoyed the sweetness on the chicken skins - it would have been better had they just been crispy and spicy. The bartender at Parlay Social highly recommended the smoked olives and those were definitely delightful! Their fall menu had just rolled out and I must say decisions were tough, but I went with one of the specials of the night: a 16 oz prime ribeye with allium butter (read: butter with onions), garlic chard, and truffled mashed potatoes. This dish was everything I love on a plate. My steak was cooked to perfection and I absolutely loved the butter. The swiss chard was also cooked perfectly and the garlic was just the right amount. I did try the duck breast and the pasta Dudley - both were equally amazing. And oh my goodness, dessert. You didn't know it until today - you need the Black Tie Sundae in your life. Perfect vanilla ice cream, gooey chocolate and caramel sauces, delicious soft brownie, and whipped cream. Yum yum get you some. Service was totally on point all night. Our somm was incredibly helpful in steering us to some really delicious wine that was a terrific value. We greatly appreciated that! Our waiter was also super helpful, polite, and knowledgeable and really had terrific timing in terms of asking us what we needed and pacing our courses. I will definitely return to Dudley's the next time I'm in Lexington!