Red Hen

The wait staff is cordial and very knowledgeable of the chef’s thinking on the menu items. They have several outdoor seating places, more than they did when I visited several years ago. They focus on local sourcing across the board - from the ingredients in the dishes, to the dish-ware itself! While everything was wonderful, I want to highlight their whiskey and buttermilk bread pudding - absolutely incredible. Possibly the best bread pudding I’ve ever had. You MUST get the bread pudding unless they add a new contender to the dessert selection.

To anyone not familiar with The Red Hen: in 2018, The Red Hen made national news when its owner refused to serve Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who, at the time, served as the press secretary for the Trump administration. Since then, The Red Hen has received a number of negative reviews, presumably from politically charged critics who may or may not have actually eaten at the restaurant. Note that constitutionally, the Red Hen is legally allowed to refuse service based on one’s political views. In reality, The Red Hen is the highest quality meal you can find in Lexington, VA. The staff is friendly and knowledgable, the ingredients are locally sourced (including dish-ware from the local pottery shop), and the menu is carefully curated based on market ingredients. The food is always cooked beautifully, and the chefs are happy to accommodate any dietary restrictions. This is my go-to spot for any special occasion. The intimate atmosphere and delicious food has led many locals to feel the same way. Unfortunately, Lexington’s visitors may see the low rating and pass over The Red Hen, which is truly a shame. Hopefully, this review can shed some light on the subject, and encourage readers to make a reservation and check out the best dining experience in Lexington.

Ignore all the bad reviews. I'm just here to talk about the food and service. The wait staff was kind and courteous and answered the questions we had about the menu. Doesn't look like much on the outside but the inside is intimate and cozy. The decor is tasteful without being over the top. The kitchen is open so you can see the chefs preparing the food right there. The food was more on the expensive side but overall priced fairly considering this is a farm to table restaurant. I went with a party of 4 so we ordered quite a bit; soup, salads, drinks, entrees, dessert. Everything looked and tasted amazing. The service was quick and they were very attentive, checking in frequently, refilling drinks, etc. Recommend this place and will come here again.

My favorite restaurant I’ve been to. I lived in Lexington for four years and have frequented the Rex Hen dozens of times for nights with delicious food, impeccable service, and great friends. The space is intimate and cozy, and it’s always neat to see the kitchen at work from a dining room table. I love the unique and colorful pottery dishes. The menu changes weekly with whatever is in season, and the kitchen and serves are always so knowledgeable and truly care about their dishes, produce, and customers. Every time I have a meal, I never think it can get better, and it always does! My favorite is the duck with fruity compote, and the roasted chicken is always perfect. I love to start with a soup or cheese board split between the table. Dessert is non-negotiable—the house lemon meringue is tart and knocks it out of the park. The after dinner coffee with liqueur is one of the best drinks I’ve had, and the local coffee is some of my favorite. The staff is incredibly kind, attentive, and accommodating. I cannot recommend the Red Hen enough! A trip to Lexington is never complete without dinner here. Edit: By the way, you can tell which reviews are fake: Red Hen only uses Earth, Fire, Spirit Pottery (local) for dishes. And, trust me, you’ll always want to take a photo of your food!

We went to this place a couple of years because it looked cute from the outside and it was close to the hiking area where we took a long walk. Back then I thought it was way overpriced for what it was. The food was bland. One would expect this sort of “quality” from a cheap diner while for rather expensive restaurant it is a no-no. I forgot to write my review about this place back then but was recently reminded of it when I’ve read that customers with political views different from the owner’s are mistreated there. I am not at all surprised.

All around horrible location, the staff I feel sorry for because the management is rude in front of customers while yelling at the staff for little things that are not worth arguing about while customers are at tables , that was my experience their and the family I was with along with other patrons we talked too while leaving said they notice this every time they come here and it’ll be their last time coming back. It seems the place needs to under new management but the owners who were also there seem to be ok with how the staff and costermers are treated so I can’t see this place getting any better . Other than that the place on the outside looks like a cool nice relaxed atmosphere but the second you walk in the staff just stares at you like why did you come inside , felt very uninviting I knew I should have left and listened to gut feeling. The food was ok but not anything different you haven’t tried anywhere else or at home . It not worth the drive I took and we actually found another place close by which was 10 times better with an actual nice relaxed atmosphere.

A delightful experience from beginning to end. I enjoyed their 4 course menu which was obviously created with love including the poached pear salad, lobster bisque, filet mignon, and olive oil cake. My server, also delightful, recommended a scotch cocktail which was fabulous. I also tried their cardamom old fashioned and was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was too. Great job Red Hen family! Thanks for a lovely evening!

We had an awesome meal here this evening. The food was great and the service was spectacular. They have an impressive wine selection, good cocktails, and great atmosphere. The prices were beyond reasonable. The desserts (we had three) were excellent as well. We’ll be visiting again soon for sure.

What a great restaurant. We ordered the pickled shrimp and ham lentil soup. For entrees we ordered the ny strip and the bolognese (10/10 recommend). We ended with the olive oil cake and the merengue. The local pottery plates, open kitchen concept, and historical church resemblance enhanced the already delicious food.

This is an excellent restaurant. The service is exceptionally personal and the dishes are flawless. We couldn't have imagined visiting Lexington without a visit to Red Hen. Now that we live here, we're in a couple of times each month.

Pretentious, dirty, will not return. A lot of better restaurants in the area. Revamp the menu, and include food people want to eat. Clean the place, and provide training to the wait staff.

This place was charming and quaint with delicious food and drinks. We found the staff to be welcoming and extremely hospitable. We had the steak and the chicken and both were outstanding and flavorful. The chicken was moist with a crisp skin and the steak was perfectly cooked (as ordered). For an appetizer we had the red pepper gazpacho soup. Each dish was incredibly flavorful and fresh tasting. We had the absinthe cocktail and another cocktail with tequila and rum. They were very well balanced and I would order again but the star cocktail was the cardamom old fashion. It one of my favorite cocktails I've ordered. For dessert we got the lemon merengue, based on some of the other reviews. It was amazing and lived up to the praise others have given it. We brought our dogs on the patio. They were very warmly welcomed and even had treats waiting for them when we got to the table. So glad I looked further into this place and gave it a try. I would travel back to Lexington just to enjoy a meal here again.

Daughter had a tournament in Lexington. Decided to grab dinner here. Really bad choice. Wife and I had a salad - date and walnut salad. It had a funky taste to it - salad was kind of brown leaf. We weren't a fan. It was yuck. We should have tried the soup instead. How can you screw up a salad? My wife, daughter, and I shared the following entrees: Blackened Pork Chop - this was way too salty for our taste, and it was way over cooked. We even told our server to not overcook it. Didn't listen and was absolutely clueless. Braised Ribs - this was decent. But, I had better. It was not as tender. For $35, it should fall off the bone kind of meat; however, the texture and meat were tough. Overall, this place is not good. Service was below average (they didn't listen to what we asked for), food was not that good, and we felt a bit rush. No idea who would give this higher than a 1. This was our first and last time eating here. We definitely would NOT recommend this place.

The food was poorly prepared and overpriced. Rude staff. Bad smell of sewer gas. Overall terrible experience.

We visited this place for take-out during our stay in Lexington, VA. The restaurant itself looks cute and they have a cute outdoor seating area (under tents) as well. The main reason I'm giving this place a 4 instead of a 5 is that they completely forgot to include the seasonal salad that I ordered, and the portion size of the ~ $30 steak dish I ordered was quite tiny. I was still hungry afterwards and had to eat something else in addition to be full that evening. But we called and told them they had forgotten one of our dishes and they took the charge off our order, which was nice (and the least they could do). Be aware that if you do take-out from here, double check that you have all your food before driving away! The plus side is that they do curbside pickup -- very convenient! The food we ordered was tasty, despite the small portion of the steak dish. We ordered the following: -Chuck Eye Steak (Grass Fed Beef, Paradox Farm Stewed Peppers, Roasted Garlic Potatoes) -House Burger (Grass Fed Beef, Caramelized Shallots, Gruyere) The food was tasty, but again, the chuck eye steak portion was just not big enough, and without the salad (that I had ordered, but which they forgot to include), I was still hungry after this meal.

Party of 2 on a Tuesday evening. 8pm seating. When traveling, researching places to eat is paramount and often takes precedence over researching where to stay. Yes, I want a comfy bed and a clean shower but my requirements for dining are far more involved! Red Hen was on the radar and I decided to pull the trigger to make a reservation for 8pm as I knew our plans would not allow for the earlier 5pm seating. NOTE: There are ONLY 2 seatings a night. In the end I was happy with the later seating as it gave us time to sit, relax and not feel as though someone was hovering to turn the table over for the next guests. We were able to talk to the staff and have an amazing experience from start to finish. House Salad: Doesn't sound special but it was. When else will you have a salad with bacon lardons and a light balsamic dressing? Apple & Parsnip Soup: Perfect amount. Just wanted a taste and it did not disappoint. It was portioned out well, so it did not take away from the meal. Cheese & Crackers: Homemade Marmalade. Homemade Granola. Local Honey. Oh yeah, and there was also cheese and crackers. I am a sucker for a good Brie and was a very happy person. Duck & Pork Sausage: Had a few bites from my dining companion's plate. The duck sausage was a tasty delight with a lovely subtle spice blend. Hence why there were a few bites and not just one bite to taste. Port Wine Braised Short Ribs: Didn't need the knife. They were amazing. And if you ever have cooked short ribs, you know how long they take to braised. So well done. Lemon Meringue: Perfect way to describe it to a foodie is if lemon curd and lemon Chantilly cream got together one wild night and produced this amazing dessert. Nice touch with the Italian Meringue also. This needed an extra special meringue and the time spent to make it was well worth it in the end. Chocolate Brownie: The brownie was good, but the coffee crunch ice cream was honestly the best coffee ice cream, ever. Apple Martini: Good. Cardamon Old Fashioned: Oh Yes Please. A must try. Absinthe Cocktail: Go ahead, splurge. This drink brought back memories for me just in its scent of warm notes of anise and fennel. The taste was unexpected and a delight. Was not expecting to like this but I did.

When other reviewers tell you that the staff act as if they don't really want you there, you can take it to the bank that it's true. Considering the low character of the owners, not a big surprise but we try to give any restaurant a fair shake and this was our second visit. I can somewhat excuse overpriced food if the staff act like they appreciate my business. I wouldn't recommend this place to locals, which we're not.

I thoroughly enjoyed the evening I spent at The Red Hen. Of course, I would never have heard of it if not for the current political climate, but nevertheless I journeyed 500 miles to see what it was all about. Certainly there are local to me farm-to-table restaurants but a friend was taking a road trip and I tagged along. As soon as I walked in the door I felt like I was coming to visit a friend's home. The dining room/kitchen is very cozy with 25 seats - more or less. You can wave to the chef as you are being seated. The wine list was very good and many reasonable options are available. The menu is small and changes frequently. On the night I visited there were 5 choices - fish, chicken, pork, beef and vegetarian. I would imagine those are the options most nights. The dishes were all light comfort food. They were well prepared and nicely presented. It is a nice touch to use local products - from the food from local farms to the dishes the food is served on. The prices are very reasonable considering they are serving real food, not some bulk purchased, cheap, factory food product. The Red Hen has many glowing reviews and they are well deserved. I would give 5 stars as well but the lentils that were served with the chicken were under cooked; they had a chalky texture. Also the cheese board was a bit meager. In any case I would not hesitate to visit The Red Hen given a chance. I think integrity is important and The Red Hen keeps it in their cooking and business practices. And thanks to Jaike and Darrin for putting up with my party's antics!

Poor service, obscenely rude employees. We were a group of 4 who mistakenly used google reviews as a gauge of restaurant quality. The bathrooms were disgusting, silverware had dried food on it (had to ask for a new set, but boy was it appetizing to have everyone inspect their forks and knives). Food was sub par, that--coupled with the rude service culminated in one of the worst dining experiences on record.

Fantastic dining experience Service Food Bar program Started with my drink, an Old Fashioned. It was made with cardamom-infused Brandy and was spectacular with muddled cherry and candied orange peel. Arctic Char was the server suggestion. Almost went that direction when I saw the chefs tasting menu on the board and went that direction. They dropped a few extra small courses along with the 5 they planned which was really nice. Of the 5 courses, the Char was phenomenal. So too was the duck pate and I'm not a pate person at all. They snuck in a ginger sorbet before dessert. So wonderfully sweet and savory at the same time. The bar choices were ample and the wine list complete. With I could take this gem home to Chattanooga with me.

Okay food, very average. Lexington is a beautiful small historical town with a surprisingly and unproportionally large number of great restaurants given the size of the town. We preferred other places over this one. The restroom smelled bad.

Placeholder review, made in the car after dinner: Can't overpraise the place. Delightful in all respects. Grüner Veltliner deelish and more than fairly priced. Darrin a gem of a staffer.

Unless you're a local, you'll probably visit the Red Hen for reasons other than finding just any old place for dinner. That aside, let me explain why you should eat here, and what to expect. First off, you may need reservations - which will cost you $45 per person. This was necessitated by their RSVP system being abused, so no money in advance = no reservation. Fortunately this fee goes towards you dinner bill, and any excess deposit funds will be refunded back to you (although with tip, tax and drinks, you'll likely spend all of it). The place is very small; maybe 6 or 7 tables, max about a dozen patrons. This is very much a farm-to-table joint that caters to foodies. Because of this concept, no menus are published online. This menu changes constantly anyway, so published menus won't help a lot. But if you email them, they'll send you a copy of whatever is currently being served. The people who are dropping 1 or 2 star reviews for the food probably never ate here, because my guest and I thought everything was excellent. Not only that, but the price point was very good - at least compared to fancier restaurants in Charlottesville or DC. And since it's such a tiny place, service also excelled. Ignore politics and just have dinner!

Red Hen This was my 2nd try at the Red Hen. The first was not a good experience. But I wanted to given it another try. We normally go to the Southern Inn, but we're looking for a change of pace. Big mistake. The service isn't really bad, just pretentious. No one was rude, but the staff tries to make you feel like it's a privilege to be there. The steak I ordered was not terrible, but it was not cooked properly. Still palatable. Can't say the same for the pasta my wife ordered. it was supposed to be Rigatoni bolognese. But it was something that I can't believe they let leave the kitchen. Over cooked mush, not al dente. The problem is it's an expensive restaurant for what you get. If they were charging lower prices, I might let it fly. but when you package all this together you get substandard food at expensive prices. Will stick to the other pleases in town from now on

What an incredible gem! I love food. I know food. I enjoyed a glorious dinner here in May and loved how Chef featured fresh and local ingredients, cooking everything to perfection. The entire staff is incredible and mindful of allergies (I have some odd ones). Truly a total delight and I can't wait to go back!

Not a fan at all of this restaurant. When I travel to Lexington this would honestly be my last pick of restaurants to eat at. Went one time and just didn't feel like a great atmosphere. Food was ok but just not for me.

Was visiting area and heard good things. Well, wasn't our experience. Food was marginal at best. Had better at Cracker Barrel. Staff was curt and inattentive. Wouldn't go back if meal was free.

The duck sausage served here is truly a delight, as is the (equally yummy!) butternut squash soup that's garnished with chili oil. LOVE the romantic, intimate ambience of The Red Hen in the evening!

Dry fish, overcooked ribs...this place is terrible. Better fish at McDonalds. Foods only good if your drunk.

Second visit, second disappointment. Second time of experiencing very average meals at a premium price. We all thought our meals were just acceptable and Luke warm. My beef was overcooked and when I told the server o received a lot of bad attitude. There won't be a third time.

My wife and I traveled to Lexington for our anniversary. Enjoying a meal at the Red Hen is a must for anyone visiting that bucolic college town. We had a meal that was exceptional from the mixed drinks at the start through the entrees and the deserts. I had the swordfish which was better than any I'ved tried before including several seafood establishments throughout Hawaii. The Red Hen is a cute little place with rustic charm and has limited seating so be sure to get an reservation early. The attentiveness of the staff was wonderful throughout the meal. Pay zero attention to the one star ratings, they are political in nature and are most likely from folks who have never even been there. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would!

Tried leaving a review on here awhile ago but either didn't post or got moved. Went here in a slow evening and the food was average to below average. I wouldn't go out of my way to make this stop. Fair drink selection, pricey. Had an old fashioned, was a bit heavy on the sugar side. Had the duck, was a bit tough, most likely over cooked. The only spotlight was the lemon meringue which earns the second star. Felt like an inconvenience to the wait staff. Turn and burn another below average restaurant.

We had a lovely dinner at The Red Hen. Very friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable service. And the food was fantastic. We had the soup, which was a curried butternut squash. It had a lively warm flavor with a bit of heat from the chili oil. My duck was cooked perfectly and I loved the earthy flavor of the accompanying lentils. And the pickled parts added a great balance of sweetness and acid. We finished off with an olive oil cake that captured the essence of fall with a butternut squash compote over the top. The Red Hen was worth the little bit of extra effort to get there.

Love this neighborhood hole in the wall. There is always a menu off the menu and the cooking is just like grandma used to make.

Delicious, creative cocktails and delectable eats, from appetizer to dessert. Wonderful service and charming space.

I ate here on my way to NY last week. The food sounded very interesting though the prices seemed a little high. It turned out to be awful. The service was terrible. Extremely rude servers. I can't really think of one good thing to say about them. Save your money and go elsewhere. Such a disappointment!

Stopped by with the family during a east coast trip and wish we had kept going. Party of 8 and more than half of us felt ill later that evening. Food plating was good but the freshness was missing. Service was almost non existent as the server checked in only once. Not a good family experience, not planning to return next time we're out east.

I used to travel to every little modest county in Virginia for work and my only consolation was finding the very best restaurants in each town. The Red Hen is Lexington's. I tried dining here a few times and learned the hard way that one may need a reservation. It was packed on any given night. So for my first and last visit, on a weeknight I arrived at the start of dinner service, 5pm. Jake was my cool server. He highly recommended the Arctic Char, which I just had to try. I never see Arctic Char on any menus in Hampton Roads, and I'm all about trying new stuff. The fish was incredible. Even all the root veggies it was paired with. I cleaned my bowl. The bowl, btw, was handmade pottery from a local place. (Ask about it.) And of course, the food is also locally sourced, if that's something you're into. I think I am.

The absolute best food and service you'll get in Lexington! Quiz any of the one-star-givers and you'll quickly discover they've never stepped foot in the place

Service was rude and inattentive. Food was good enough, but who cares to eat good food in a place doesn't seem to want you there?

MY GENUINE REVIEW WAS REMOVED BY YELP FOR THE SECOND TIME We've patronized The Red Hen several times over the time it's been situated in picturesque and historic Lexington, VA. We live maybe an hour away, which is the only reason we don't visit more often. All visits have exceeded our expectations of the dining experience. Locally sourced food is important to us and we know we can dine here and not only have that, but a delicious and fun meal. We often order 'outside of the box' for our normal dining, which has been fun. We enjoy the wine list, as winos, but also love the custom crafted cocktails on their mixology list. Leave the politics and those angry about what's happened here behind and come visit a wonderful place tucked in the VA Blue Ridge. Better call ahead or book a table on Yelp. Family and Graduation weekends fill quickly. Even when busy, the service is wonderful, another thing we appreciate quite a bit.

What a great place! We started with the smoked salmon appetizer. Delicious. I had the pheasant entree, & it was wonderful, too. Rich & flavorful. Tom had the brisket & he was very pleased. Both entrees came with fresh local vegetables. For dessert we shared a piece of lemon meringue pie. REALLY strong lemon flavor with no crust to worry about! The setting was charming. It feels like it was once a church, but our waiter told us it was originally a bar. The evening was perfect.

My boyfriend and I ate on the patio on a Friday night to celebrate our anniversary. We mentioned we were celebrating our anniversary when we made the reservation and there was a signed card and champagne toast waiting for us on our table when we arrived. Our server went above and beyond friendly and attentive! He even brought our dog some treats that the restaurant makes in house. The strawberry salad was a standout appetizer and the salmon entree was delicious. We were too full to order dessert, but the dessert menu looked spectacular.

I travel for work (supposed to be retired, but I own the company so have to service some existing accounts), and because of its proximity to a client, I've been here several times. Every time it's the same thing; rude, untrained staff, long waits, and subpar food. I wish there were more options nearby that weren't fast food. Today's experience was no different. I knew what was coming, but my client always chooses it for our work lunch locale. Ugh, yuck.

Ate there a less than a year ago and if I'm in that area again that would be the last place I would eat . Overpriced food that wasn't that great at all

My boyfriend made a reservation for dinner a week in advance because apparently this restaurant is popular and gets filled very quickly--and he wasn't wrong. It's popular and gets filled quickly because the restaurant is tiny. From the looks of it, it maybe holds 20 people max. But I was so pleasantly surprised when we arrived. We drove about an hour from where we were staying to try this place out, and was not disappointed. There's street parking and free parking in an open parking lot/parking garage area around the corner from the restaurant. We parked in the lot and walked over. (I was so surprised that the parking was free! What a win.) As aforementioned, the restaurant itself is tiny, but very intimate, cozy, and quaint. We were warmly welcomed and led to our spot in the corner with three throw pillows. The tables are decorated with delicate fresh cut flowers, which was a small detail that I appreciated. The menu is not posted online because apparently it rotates quite often. I love that they use local ingredients and there are seasonal offerings. For the appetizer, we shared a salad (using butter lettuce, my favorite!) dressed with a flavorful date dressing. For dinner, I ordered the special which was a steak and roasted vegetables, while my boyfriend ordered the short rib. Both choices were fantastic, but what really stood out to me was the presentation and combination of vegetables that came with it. The roasted vegetables consisted of brussel sprouts, potatoes, and carrots. I think the highlight of both dishes were the balanced seasoning and how both were cooked to perfection. For drinks, I ordered a Pinot Noir, which was a fantastic choice. And my boyfriend ordered a cocktail. All were fantastic choices. For dessert, we were convinced to get the Lemon Meringue. I was craving chocolate so we also got the Flourless Chocolate Cake that came with a scoop of ice cream. Just a warning, although small, the chocolate cake is very rich and heavy, so you may want to share this with a friend or your significant other. The lemon meringue was good, and probably their most popular dessert, but I wasn't crazy about it. Definitely the lighter of the two options, though. Our waiter was enthusiastic and incredibly helpful, and that really made a difference in the dining experience overall. Overall, this was a great experience. I would recommend this place for a first date or any date, really. I probably wouldn't recommend this spot for people who have young children given that it's a small and intimate restaurant. If I'm ever back in the area, I'll definitely make another reservation for this spot again!

Cozy atmosphere. Warm & friendly staff. Exceptional wine list. Well prepared and seasoned food. The high barrell truss ceiling made it feel open and not at all the smaller size it is. Loud noise was certainly not an issue here...being able to talk to my dining partner without having to raise my voice tends to be a rarity these days. We had the smoked salmon to start..with rye croutons, dill, a smoked oyster aioli and beautiful beet greens. For our entreés we went with the duck and Arctic char (and a side of the most delicious gratin style potatoes). Both were cooked to perfection. Everything complimented each other. We were stuffed but finished the meal with a scoop of citrus sorbet in a beautiful little pool of limoncello topped with what I believe was a salted orange slice.

My wife and I have eaten here dozens of times. We have never had a meal that was less than really good and most of the time the meals, the service, and the staff are terrific. I read some of the critical reviews below and found them so wrong that they most have gone to a different place. AMD some of the reviews are clearly political.

The food was not terrible but there was a stench emanating from the kitchen. I asked our server if she smelled it, she blamed it on the city water. It smelled like sewage backup. Anyway, although the menu isn't relatable, quality is comparable to a restaurant like Applebees or Golden Corral, only pricier. My great-grandmother said she loved the aura because it reminded her of being a child during the depression.

The food was amazing, the atmosphere friendly, and the desserts were to die for. Chef T is simply the best.

I have been to this restaurant a few times and every time the meal and service have been perfect! The menu changes and everything is farm fresh! The chef is very creative and the food is excellent! Review Update since the "sarah" incident. The place is booked for months in advance. Was difficult to get a reservation last week! The food is as excellent as ever! The service was also outstanding!

Very disappointed, food was bland. Service not good, should have read the reviews before going, would not recommend. Don't waste your time or money!

I've been told I'm a fake by a few. Asked to post a receipt. I can understand the concern of a fake review. Some reviews are tossed, while others are kept. I also see general disdain for a positive review. It's a review folks. You can believe it or not. So here's my receipt. Enjoy

Unbelievable is one of the words that comes to mind when I think of The Red Hen, as well as delicious, modern and exclusive. This small restaurant is the hidden gem of Lexington with only 10 tables, and a new menu each day, so you know what you're getting is fresh! We had called on Wednesday trying to get a table for that Saturday night, but they were already completely booked and placed us on a waitlist. On Friday night we called again hoping they had had a cancellation, and lucky for us they had an opening at 5:45 PM! On Saturday, once we arrived to The Red Hen, we were seated quickly at a small table by the open kitchen. It was exciting to be able to see all the action happening in the kitchen while seated at our table. We ordered the Smoked Salmon Terrine as a first course, and it was great! I had never had this dish before, but it was smoky and creamy and crunchy and left me wanting more! As for the second course, we both had the Chicken with Lemon Risotto. The ground chicken was mixed with chicken sausage which made it extremely savory and moist. The light citrusy risotto accompanied the chicken perfectly. This was probably one of the best dishes I have ever tried, and spent a whole week reminiscing the flavor. We were full by the end, but just had to have dessert. My boyfriend ordered the Brownie and I had the Lemon Merengue (both delicious, but mine was better)! We are already planning a new visit to Lexington, for the sole purpose of going to The Red Hen, and will make sure to make a reservation with more time in advance!

Great service. Food was great. My friend and I ordered the short ribs and cast iron chicken - it was delicious and cooked to perfection.

The problem with this place isn't the food. The food isn't bad. It's the service. It took forever to get our food and even longer to pay for it. I was so tempted just to walk out. I shouldn't have to wait Thirty minutes to pay. Bad experience. Not worth the time it took to get our dinner and then leave.

Renowned establishment was always a favorite of mine when I lived in Reston. This is still a proud eatery and is struggling mightily to survive in the age of Covid. I can't wait to return to Virginia and be a faithful customer once more. The entrees truly can't be beat and the service is warm and efficient.