Ramsey’s Diner

First time in Lexington and decided to give a local diner a try and was very impressed. Ambiance is great, not too loud but with good energy. Service was fast and friendly, and the food was amazing. I highly recommend the buffalo fried chicken sandwich. A little messy, but easily tasty enough to be worth it.

Recommended by multiple Lexington natives for the best fried chicken. A great spot for Southern comfort food. I ordered the fried buffalo chicken special which came with two veggies. This Wisconsinite was quite happy that mac & cheese is officially considered a veggie here. Meals come with corn shaped corn bread which was delicious as well. All the meals that were coming out looked delicious. The staff was incredibly friendly and sweet tea flows like water here. Sad I didn’t save room for their peanut butter pie which was raved about. Would definitely go back again.
The only reason for 4 stars is the atmosphere. Great food, but typical diner décor without much in the way of ambiance.

Solid diner as the name implies. Nothing is really that great on the menu and the food is average. We have been for dinner once and for breakfast another and have been satisfied both times. I gave 3 stars because the place is ok and solid but nothing really special or worth a special trip for in my opinion.

I love love love Ramsey’s. I usually get the chicken (they give you two HUGE pieces) with the fried corn and spinach. It tastes just like my mother’s food. Home cooking at it’s best. This is a great place to bring even the pickiest eater because there is something for everyone. And they have delicious pie! If you want to be fat and happy eating good county food WAY BETTER than Cracker Barrel and the like, Ramsey’s is the place to go.

Ramsey’s Diner has been a Lexington restaurant fixture since the original location opened in 1989. They offer Kentucky home cooking, with their specialty being «meat and three» (sides). They also boast a full selection of sandwiches, salads, and breakfast items.
During our most recent visit we ordered the grilled pork chops with red sauce, creamed corn, apple fritters, and cole slaw.
The grilled pork chops came nicely prepared complete with grill marks. The red sauce they are basted in is a sweet and tangy tomato concoction similar to that served with some meat-​loafs (sort of a sweetened chili sauce). We ordered extra on the side for dipping.
As for side dishes (veggies) the creamed corn is so delicate and sweet we can rarely resist it. The apple fritters, a guilty deep-​fried pleasure not found on most restaurant menus, pairs nicely with their coleslaw (which I find similar in taste to that served at Cracker Barrel).
Our cornbread was cold but when we complained it was quickly replaced. Strangely, it is served without butter.
Other items we enjoy include the spicy fried catfish, meat loaf, fried green tomatoes (with a side of cocktail sauce for dipping added) and the made from scratch Missy’s Pies.
If somehow you haven’t already tried Ramsey’s take on home cooking I suggest you make a bee line for the front door… you’ll be glad you did!

Alright, so I love Ramsey’s. Their veggie plate is my favorite and I love the local delicious selection in the summer. But this Tates Creek location is awful. I moved over here and have come 4 times and they all were awful.
1^st time, the dishwasher caught fire and I didn’t get to eat my meal and wasn’t given anything to make up for it. I just spent my money and left.
2^nd time was just ok. The corn bread was cold and hard and the pinto beans were basically refried beans. I’m not super picky so it wasn’t enough to keep me away.
3^rd was a to-​go and it was AWFUL. The food was cold AND burnt like they tried to throw something old on the grill to heat it up and just burnt it. The spinach was literally swimming in bacon grease. Blehg
4^th was today. I got the breakfast. The pancakes were sooooo dry they crumbled and soaked up two things of syrup. Which just made it more gross. The eggs and bacon were over cooked even though I asked for scrambled soft and medium bacon. My coffee wasn’t refilled even before I payed.
Normally service is good but that was lame.
It must be some new cook or something but I’m 100% not coming back here and most likely won’t drive across town to the others. Y’all really need to get it together.
I’m pretty bummed about it.
Don’t not go to Ramsey’s but mostly certainly don’t go to this one.

This is one of four local Ramsey’s locations. It’s in the Tates Creek Shopping Center/​strip mall, the same one as Kroger. I love Ramsey’s, but this location is my least favorite.
My BFF was in town yesterday and as we sat there eating dinner, I remembered that the last time that I ate at this Ramsey’s location was with her, 19 years ago, when we were both teenagers. Ok, now that I told my age, let me recap.
The menu highlights are… for $ 12.95 you can choose one meat option and three veggie/​side items from a pretty extensive list. My daughter chose the boneless buffalo dipped fried chicken. The order came with two pretty good sized pieces of chicken. There are several sandwiches and salads to choose from. I ordered the buffalo chicken strip salad. It was pretty good sized and I liked it, but the temperature of the chicken was less than I’d prefer. My mom is honey mustard fan and she said that they have the worst honey mustard that she ever had… it didn’t even look like honey mustard.
The waitress was ok. Not excellent, but still earned her 20%+. The big kicker was when my daughter found a hair baked on the bottom of her cornbread. The young manager came over and explained that it was just a bristle from the pastry brush and that it happens all of the time. I kid you not, I’m dead serious, she said IT HAPPENS ALL OF THE TIME and then asked if she would bring her out more corn bread… um, let me think… no thanks?! Why would they continue to use a bristled pastry brush if they leave hairs ALL OF THE TIME?! For the record, I use a rubber pastry brush at home… hint, hint. Then the chair had a staple raised from the wood and it tore a hole my daughter’s leggings. It just wasn’t her lucky day.
They do have a 2-​for-​1 happy hour from 4 – 7 daily, but that excludes wine and beer.

Friendly friendly friendly friendly friendly and I’ll say it one more time for good measure FRIENDLY. Gosh dang the service at Ramsey’s has to be the BEST in all of Lexington. I recently stopped by here for some Saturday breakfast and was greeted by and taken care of the kindest, most attentive wait staff I have ever encountered. If you want to know what true Southern hospitality is, look no further than Ramsey’s. Our servers were patient, outgoing, and never let our water glasses run dry. Thank you!
And that BREAKFAST. UGH YUM I think I died and went to heaven. Let me tell y’all — they have a deal for about $ 10 where you can order and/​all of: 5 eggs, bacon, pancakes, sausage, toast, and potatoes. LIKE, WHAT?! Do you even understand how much food that is and what a good deal it is?! I only got 3 eggs, bacon, pancakes, and potatoes and was STUFFED by the end of the meal. I was eyeing those Missy’s Pies (please do yourself a favor and get one if you never have), but I just could not stomach another bite.
Basically what I’m trying to say is that this meal was everything I ever wanted at more, and to boot I came in around 11 on a Saturday and had 0 wait! Crazy! So thank you, Ramsey’s, for reminding me of why I never should have left my old Kentucky home (:

This review is old. I have not lived in Lexington for over a year, but having left the area, I find that this is the best burger place I’ve ever eaten at and I have been all over the country. This applies to all locations I’ve attended of this franchise. The food is consistent and the service excellent. I can not speak for the alcoholic drinks because I am not a big drinker and have not tried them, but when I do visit Lexington, I make it a point to come here at least once. I don’t know what they do to make the meat in the burgers so good, but whatever they are doing, it is delicious. I’ve been to many of their locations at least 8 to 10 times while I lived in Lexington with groups as large at 8, to as little as a friend and I, and can say I’ve never had a bad experience.

Great food at a good price. I enjoy the home cooked taste and I don’t have to fix it.

Great food & service every single time! Never a let down! Always a great experience!

Always enjoy this location since it is close to home.
Love the two for one stiff drinks!
Stopped in with my 16yo son after a day of hunting for a job for him … he had never had a Ruben… loved it and states is now his favorite sandwich even over a hamburger!
I had a ruben as well. Great Krauthammer touch too much butter on bread, but otherwise near perfect.
I had the Kale as a side… was shocked that it actually had salt (mayne just a smidge too much) and flavoring. even a slight pepper after bite. Cooked with teal meat. by far the best restaurant greens i habe had in this town.
We each could only eat half our sandwichs and look forward to the rest for dinner.
Service was great. waterglass was never empty. who walked by filled it — i.e. the staff worked well amd supported one another.
Two sandwiches, sides and a beer for me. only $ 24. Well worth a 25% tip!

Great lunch. Cheesy hot brown is my favorite. Love the vegetables– kale greens, fried green tomatoes, fried corn, and sautéed spinach. Hard to beat this place for home cooking. The pies are fantastic. Very good price performer with quality, quantity, and friendly service.

I love Ramsey’s. I’ve never been disappointed with their food. And the fact they stay busy should confirm its success.
I love their steak. Recently I seen a change in their menu. They removed the sirloin and replaced it with beef filet. It may take some time to prepare it but worth the wait. And their bean soup is great too.

Dropped by for a quick, light lunch. I had the tomato basil chicken soup. I expected a bisque-​like version, but it turned out to be a hearty, chunky soup with veggies and good-​sized pieces of chicken. Two corn sticks were included. My daughter had their chicken salad sandwich with avocado, lettuce and tomato on wheat. She raved about the chicken salad, which was simply prepared with mayo, celery and onions, so I had a taste and have to say it was quite good. Alongside the sandwich was the side of her choice, fried green tomatoes. I couldn’t resist grabbing one off the top of the hefty pile of these hot, crisp delights. A little hot sauce gave them some additional wow.
I can’t tell you how long it had been since I’d been to any of the Ramsey’s. I do recall however, a too big, to rich Hot Brown, a dish that I loved once upon a time.
We sat outside, because my daughter brought her dog. Without even asking, the manager brought out a large bowl of water for him. That got them the extra star!

When in Kentucky (Lexington, in particular) being outside of Mint Julep season and horses dislike running in the snow, what better excuse than to figure out what else abounds here besides the wealth of collegiate taverns (go Blue and White) and fried pies. Of course first one has to be able to find this place, which happens to sit on the corner of the mall between the Subway (which has a very bright sign) and the Fitness Gym (with an equally bright sign and 2 stories worth of workout space).
Silently waiting with its full bar and smells of BBQ, frying and Missy pies… Ramsey’s lies shushed behind a simple storm door, and a small sign that says, basically, yes we’re open. Get in here and eat. Now how someone actually manages to go into the neighboring sub store for a 6-​inch italian combo, when there’s chicken fried steaks awaitin’ next door, I’ll never know.
Chicken (fried that is) 2 large 6 oz. breast meat slabs with seasoned flour dredging. 3 sides? I picked 5. Pickled beets (homespun), deep-​fried corn on the cob with parmesan cheese (now there’s an idea — slather that with mayo and chile with lemon and you have the makings of a meal unto one.), okra with tomatoes and corn (done quite lightly compared with the overly stewed versions found most laces — very fresh tasting), fried green tomatoes (pepper floured lightly and crisp and perky as they come), and baked acorn squash (one of 3 extra changing daily veggie selections — done deal). The little cup by the chicken is the country gravy, which is thick enough to consider mashed potatoes, but it’s almost spreadable chicken drippings in a cream sauce form). And the usual complement of iron skillet corn bread (done as the half cobette style versions).
All standards, pretty much, and all done very properly for not a lot of price. But what makes this place that extra star worth is the service and the atmosphere. If you happen to run into server Salina one evening, and you can’t help but smile. That there’s one positively perky server who knows her stuff!
Missy pies are a must, even if you have to pack yours to-​go, ’cause you’re stuffed. On a less filling evening, I might have gone for that peanut butter and brownie «combo» pie, but instead had the buttery and touched with bourbon pecan. It’s all done right.

The 2-​for-​1 happy hour is great! 4 – 7 daily I belive. Wonderful way to unwind after work. The food is a little heavy on the fat and fried side for me but it sure is good. The salads are my hook though. Big, huge helpings. Fresh tomatoes and other veggies. Delicious homemade ranch dressing that is so good. The buffalo chicken salad is to die for with the ranch. All salads come with fresh sliced boiled eggs too. A nice touch that I look forward to.

Standard southern food. Their breakfast is really wonderful– their Ramsey breakfast is HUGE. Delicious. The buffalo chicken is good and has a kick. They have a patio, but depending on what time you get there, there’s a wait, especially for the game or on weekends.
They have shuttles to the games, too.
Be sure to order a Missy’s Pie– the MayDay (AKA Derby) and peanut butter are my favorite.

This location is always packed and busy, but the service is good and you can usually get in and out quick unless you are just enjoying the atmosphere. I had the buffalo chicken breast plate with a side salad, kale greens and fries. The buffalo has a great flavor. The missy pies are awesome although I didn’t have room to partake in that last night. I love the pecan pie. They have an awesome breakfast meal too on the weekends.
The only downfall I’ve had is the Mac n cheese needs to be worked on. It’s got a lumpy or gritty texture. Perhaps they only use a white cheddar cheese or something? My 5 year old got it with her meal and she said it was yucky so I tasted it and she was right. It wasn’t good. Maybe it wasn’t mommy’s Mac n cheese! :-) that has been the only food item I’ve ever had any issue with, but I won’t let it ruin the rest of the items I’ve had there.

Always have the Best Service in town! I have had the most accommodating waitresses. The food is comforting home style old southern dishes. Makes me homesick… Crispy golden fried chicken and catfish. You cant get another country fried steak in town that even comes close. Oh hush my mouth!!! Yes it is good food just bring an appetite!!!