Distilled at Gratz Park

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Restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park in Lexington KY, Central Kentucky restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park,

Review guidelines:

1 Fork = I would rather eat dog food.
2 Forks = I would eat there if I was starving.
3 Forks = Not bad; someplace I would occasionally consider eating.
4 Forks = A good place to eat; I will put it into my rotation of places I dine frequently.
5 Forks = One of my all time favorites!

One caveat to note – I am allergic to fish and seafood, so if you are looking for those recommendations, you will have to consult someone else.

Because I have a daughter-in-law with Celiac and a really good friend who is Vegetarian, I will try to point out whether those options are present when I review a restaurant.

May 27, 2016

Distilled at Gratz Park 

120 W 2nd St.
Lexington, KY 40507
859-255-0002
Restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park in Lexington KY, Central Kentucky restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park,

Distilled is the new restaurant which replaced Jonathan at Gratz Park, a local B&B Inn in historic downtown Lexington. The occasion for my visit was another Friday night dinner with reviewer sidekick Andrea. I had heard that this restaurant was excellent from friends and family. Excellent does not begin to describe our dining experience! This was perhaps the best dinner I have ever eaten in Lexington. The restaurant has been redecorated since it changed ownership and is very tastefully appointed with a low key but elegant vibe.


Restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park in Lexington KY, Central Kentucky restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park,
We began our dining adventure with craft cocktails. I ordered the Lavender Thyme Lemonade which was made with Ketel One Citron, lavender thyme simple syrup, muddled lemons and soda. I was fine, but my companion, Andrea’s selection was much better. She ordered The Parasol which included Lillet Blanc, St. Germain Elderflower Liquor, honey simple syrup, and Biutiful Brut Cava Float. It was delicious. The server told us that this cocktail was a throwback to prohibition. We were off to a great start!

We decided to share an appetizer and selected the cheese plate. It included homemade pimiento cheese, Cambozola, Petite Basque, pistachios, rosemary crackers, and golden raisin mostarda. The cheeses were wonderful, and even though I don’t like raisins, the mustard was awesome – very similar to chutney.

Restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park in Lexington KY, Central Kentucky restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park,
Following the appetizer course, we chose to split a soup. We tried the lentil curry soup. It too, was delicious! In addition to assorted lentils, it contained crème fraiche, chiles, cilantro, and lime.

Restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park in Lexington KY, Central Kentucky restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park,
Next, we ordered our salad course, which we split. Our selection was a mix of field greens, diced heirloom tomatoes, two different homemade vinaigrettes, topped with an interesting fried pimiento cheese fritter. It was light and yummy.


Restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park in Lexington KY, Central Kentucky restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park,
Finally, we ordered our main courses. I chose the fried Marksbury Farm chicken breast and thigh. It was served with pommes puree, potato gnocchi, a tes-wrapped trumpet mushroom (which I gave to Andrea), radish, and rosemary chicken gravy. The fried chicken was probably the best I have ever eaten locally. The crust was crispy and flavorful, while the meat was moist and tender. The potatoes and gnocchi were also excellent accompaniments.

Restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park in Lexington KY, Central Kentucky restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park,
Andrea chose the pan-seared halibut, served with clams, curry, bok choy, chiles, confit potatoes, and sesame black vinegar. She loved her entrée as well.


Restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park in Lexington KY, Central Kentucky restaurant review of Distilled at Gratz Park,
Finally, the desserts on the website menu looked intriguing, however, we were told the menu had changed but the site had not been updated. The revised dessert choices were still very appealing. I chose the homemade peach ice cream, which was undoubtedly the best I have ever had. Andrea chose a medley of two homemade ice creams (a salted caramel and a popcorn) accompanied by a dark chocolate mousse. She pronounced it excellent as well.

The pace of the meal was very relaxed, but our server was very knowledgeable and attentive. Dinner was $76.13 including tax and tip. While pricey, Distilled is a great choice for a romantic evening or special occasion meal. We both enjoyed our outstanding dining experience!

Parking is available for restaurant and B&B guests in the adjacent lot.

Gluten Free Options – none advertised.
Vegetarian Options – none advertised.

For a complete menu, hours of operation, or to make a reservation, check out Distilled at:
http://distilledatgratzparkinn.com/

Restaurant reviews, Central Kentucky restaurant reviews, Central Kentucky,

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