I had dinner at Natasha's when I was visiting Lexington a few months ago and thought it was great. It's a little bistro and for a person from New York, it feels like home. They have a great menu with plenty of vegetarian options. The wine list is small but definitely good and the waiters know what they're talking about. It's a great spot for two or for a small group.
(5)
Bob B.
Made it downtown again during lunchtime today so decided to try somewhere I'd not been in several years. A pal had recently told me that Natasha's had shifted their focus somewhat and when I peeked at their website I saw a Monday lunch special offered: $6.00 for a bottomless bowl of pasta. Sounded perfect to me since my business was taking me to the County Clerk's office little more than a block away. I swear I'm not what would be considered high maintenance. I walked in to Natasha's about 1:30, definitely within their lunch hours and I was hoping there would not be much of a crowd at that hour. I was right! Only three tables of the 20+ were occupied. I looked around for a few seconds and then the host took me by surprise because he was sitting at a table near the door, wearing very casual clothing and playing with his phone before asking if he could help me. I replied that I heard they'd refreshed the menu and that I was looking forward to trying the Monday pasta special. He told me that I was out of luck, that it was dinner only. He walked me over to a large printout of their menu to show me and, lo and behold, it said that they offered it for lunch, for $6 vs dinnertime's $10. With no apology he put me at the closest possible table to the door (that he wasn't sitting at). Luckily, the waitress seemed much more with it. She came directly over to me from taking one of the other table's orders, was friendly and cheerful. I said "I'll make this easy, I know exactly what I would like: the daily pasta bowl special." Of course she asked for my drink order and I assured her that I needed no drink, had plenty of water and tea earlier in the day, and that it was one less thing for her to worry about. She seemed perplexed and offered again to bring me a water. I smilingly repeated "No drink thanks, I'm good, I'll just take a bowl of the daily pasta special". She laughed and it felt flirty and fun and I was prepared to tip her beyond what would be expected for a bowl of pasta and no drink. 25 minutes later and I was still waiting on a bowl of the advertised daily special pasta. I'm a bachelor, I'm not high maintenance, I've worked service industry jobs aplenty so I understand that it can be a thankless situation. BUT if your restaurant is not busy and you've advertised a daily special and you are situated where you are expected to serve lunch to folks who need to be in-and-out during their office lunchbreaks and you're not dealing with serving drinks... 25 minutes is too long to wait. If they are in a crunch, perhaps someone called in sick, then the host could jump in to help take some plates out to tables. But no. While I sat there waiting I witnessed two more customers come in (one solo, one couple) and the host had to get up from his table and away from his phone to help them, going back to sitting down with his phone both times. Natasha's is almost a Lexington institution. I remember having several delicious meals of Russian cuisine at their first incarnation on Southland Drive over 20 years ago. I've been a handful of times over the years, a nice place to take a date for dinner before a movie across the street at the Kentucky Theater. They've managed to stay in business and grow and establish quite a following over the years. Today's experience makes me really wonder what's happened. Long story short, I left before my food came out. I really hate to do that but my parking garage tally was ticking ever-upwards. It will take several more recommendations before I can consider giving them another chance. There are many many other restaurants downtown - next time daytime business takes me down there I'll try somewhere else.
(1)
Chris P.
This place is refreshing for Lexington. It's like hippies meet jazz. We brought our own wine and had a 3 course meal. Most everything was good. The Bison burger was not the best but edible. The peach pie was outstanding. There was a band playing in the backround and that was nice to see that, especially for free. Great funk band. Our waitress was chill and relaxed. We got a window seat and got to people watch while drinking mass amounts of Malbec. We also dipped in to the wine list that they offered, which was ok.
(4)
Jerry N.
My dinner at Natasha's came about due to a Yelp search from the comfort of a Holiday Inn Express while visiting Lexington a few months back (prior to moving here this summer). During my search, it became apparent that there is a much smaller population of active Yelpers in Lexington than in some of the places I've lived before, but size isn't everything and Natasha's was rated highly enough. Yelp had rarely led me astray before, so I felt confident in my choice. Unfortunately, my confidence may have been misplaced on this occasion. I had one of the burgers, and while somewhat underwhelming, it was passable. The fries, however, were limp, greasy, and room temperature. My wife and life-long partner in crime ordered the vegetarian Thai peanut stir-fry. It wasn't very Thai, and it wasn't stellar. It lacked any memorable flavor, texture, or color for me to even recall now. I will say that the environment seemed pleasant enough, and though we didn't stay for the stage-show that night, I could see myself enjoying Natasha's significantly more with the right musical accompaniment. Perhaps my expectations were too high, or just out of sync with what Natasha's is going for, but this was definitely a "miss" for us.
(2)
Brad C.
An A for effort? Love the vibe. The idea, is perfect. The service is fine. The menu is frozen in time. The prices are ridiculous. Lunch, is ridiculous. Never been for a show. Maybe I will give it another shot soon. It's hard to complain, I've just never been blown away by any aspect of this place. Love what they bring to the city for others, it just might not be for me.
(3)
Chris F.
Natasha's is a very West Coast kindofa place right in the middle of Lexington. It would fit perfectly in The Bay Area, Portland or Seattle. It's got a cool, chill nightlife vibe very different from the Wildcat jello shot orgy that takes place a couple blocks away on Friday nights. They have dinner theater apparently, although I went on a night they had live music, and you can enjoy it with a really good glass of wine. They also run a lunch buffet, which is definitely not as good as the dinners. It's cafeteria style, they weigh your food like they do in Brazil and charge you based on how much it weighs. The jalapeño cheese grits taste almost exactly like the jalapeño cheddar cheese spread you can get in US military issued Meals Ready to Eat (MRE), which is not exactly high praise, but there are definitely worse military ration menu items to be compared to...it gave me a Pavlovian craving for Ranger pudding...
(4)
Lacey P.
Great eclectic music that is unbeatable anywhere. Good food. Service can be iffy.
(4)
Beth C.
Redid their lunch buffet. Very good value! $7.50 all you can eat. Always delicious food.
(5)
Scott S.
This is a funky, but fun place. I went here with colleagues and was told "We're having theater in restaurant tonight." We didn't sit where we could see the actors, but we could hear them and it sounded funny. The play was fairly short and from a local theater group. I ordered the midnight chicken which was stewed chicken in a mild curry sauce with cauliflower, raisins and carrots over rice. It was accompanied by a very tasty Greek salad. Others ordered the pot pie and wrap and reported them as being quite tasty. The wine list is modest, but great prices! I can't remember when we drank a decent bottle of wine in a restaurant for $22! Service was attentive and prompt. The server was nice enough to let us know that if we didn't order drinks before the play started, she'd have to wait until it was over. That speed us along! This was also one of the least expensive business dinners I've ever had, just $25 per person including tip. Check it out. I went because of other Yelpers and am glad I did.
(4)
Matt O.
The atmosphere and show made the night. I like big open spaces and this is one. The lighting and decor create a neat ambiance that is neither bright nor dark. Show was good and server was attentive but non-intrusive. The caesar salad was overpriced at $6 for lettuce and croutons, but still tasted good. We had the chocolate dessert, which was delicious. We'll be back for a full dinner and another show as soon as possible.
(4)
Sue B.
While on vacation for a week in Lexington, we frequented this restaurant twice. It's kind of a funky place, but fun. The food was very good and the staff very friendly. My husband loved the pot pie and the warm chocolate chip cookies were delicious. This restaurant was very accommodating as they hosted our cycling club of about 50 people.
(4)
Pepper T.
Headed here tonight watch a comic preform. Really enjoyed the layout of the restaurant. It was kinda slow, and my husband and I could have a wonderful, slightly romantic time. Our waiter was attentive and friendly. We explained we came here for the show that starts later and he timed delivery of our food very nicely. Our meals were fantastic.Place was relaxing and we will be back in the future.
(4)
Emily B.
I've been here a couple of times since my last review, and it's gotten worse quickly. Today was BAD. My husband and I shared an order of 6 wings as an appetizer, then each had lunch (and our son ate some of everything). Oh my GARLIC. EVERYTHING on my plate was overpowered by garlic! The wings had had garlic in their description, so that doesn't really bother me (though a better balance of flavors would have been nice), but my vegetable wrap had so much garlic I couldn't taste anything else, the fries were soggy, limp, and covered in garlic, and even the side of Ranch dressing I'd requested had huge chunks of garlic in it! Gross. I literally couldn't eat most of my meal, and have no intention of ever returning. Our waitress was really nice, which is all that kept this from a 1-star review. The kitchen deserves 0 stars though. The food was awful, and it took 30 minutes to get our food with no other customers in the place (and we ordered a sandwich and a wrap).
(2)
Stephanie H.
I love this little local spot so much I have been two times in 3 days since I found it. I would actually just come back for the French fries! The menu selection is wonderful, the staff is welcoming and courteous, the atmosphere is charming! The patio is a great spot for lunching and the dining room for dinner is cozy. It looks as if they have live entertainment as well. If you are in the area...this is a must!
(5)
Brian G.
Great atmosphere and fantastic music venue. Best hot brown I've had. Service was very good and it was a fun crowd. Not much of a draft beer selection if that's what you are looking for. If you ever get a chance to hear The Northside Sheiks definitely go. They are incredible. I would go see The Landers on their own. Great music.
(5)
Olwen C.
Lunch is great! The fries are very, very good. Lots of garlic in everything. Yum!
(4)
Jim W.
Food was good. Service was okay. Problem was noise level, due to a packed house, and very poor acoustics, made it extremely difficult, I.e., virtually impossible to have a conversation at our 4-top table. When we politely asked our waitress if they could turn off, or perhaps turn down the sound system, which could not be heard over the noise level, but which added greatly to the noise, she said yes. It was turned off for about 10 minutes, then turned back on at the same level as before, with no explanation, or apology, whatsoever.
(3)
Allison D.
I used to be a huge fan and supporter of Natasha's - all the way back to the days when half of the space was an incredible eclectic and international boutique. Tonight I was terribly disappointed in my meal. The Szechuan Satay had bad flavor, some undercooked and some overcooked chicken, too-al dente rice (some was barely cooked), and bland veggies. And it was $15. I have had better similar meals in airport food courts. Disappointed and don't plan l go back.
(2)
William G.
i don't think this was meant to really be a restaurant so much as a venue that lucked into a pretty good chef or two. don't get me wrong; the food is good. mine and my companions' meals were well received, although the portions were a little low for such an expensive plate of goulash. the atmosphere is nice. the restaurant is well kept, and while the decor is nothing out of the ordinary, it's nice and gets the job done without being too kitschy. it's the staff that keeps me from rating this higher. i have been during both a musical performance and an improv show and the staff, including the owners, were far more interesting in what was happening on stage than their customers. our waitress had to be tracked down every time. i am not one to expect slavish devotion to my table, or hold my service industry friends to some ridiculous standard of manners, but i think they should come by at least once after the food is served. if this is not a quibble for you, then i would definitely say go. the food is worth the price and the entertainment wasn't bad either.
(3)
Denika C.
come here for poetry slams, live music, brunch with drag queens, food, & tea. beetnik.com
(5)
Ross M.
Worlds best chocolate cake, hell chocolate anything. This is my standard desert place. When I want desert I don't even bother looking what other places have to offer, I go here and get their chocolate cake, mmmmm. I've had dinner here before as well, it's good, but not my kind of stuff. I've had other deserts (in addition to the cake of course) and they were good as well, but I so miss being able to get this cake.
(5)
Samantha G.
I've only been here once, for lunch, and I didn't have dessert. But what I did have was excellent service, a lovely eating environment, and a slamming plate of hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh salad, and some sort of mushroom salad. It was super yummy and filling, but still light. I also really like the boutique next door. I bought some really cute shoes to go along with my tasty meal.
(4)
Divinyl F.
Hooray for the new Natasha's! One of my favorite haunts going all the way back to their Southland Drive days has upped their game. Natasha's has a very unique and cool ambience that I love. The uber cool Moroccan feel of the arches and lanterns is trumped only by the friendliness of the staff. Absolutely love the Alley Bar at the back of the restaurant. It's intimate, friendly and after a few visits, feels like home base. My only issues with Natasha's in the past have been the menu's lack of lower price points and limited choices in the appetizer/small plate category. Both have been dealt with admirably since their recent re-imagining of things. I sampled a plethora of the new offerings and give a hearty thumbs up to the Bahn-Mi Sliders, crab cakes, hummus and pita points as well as their braised pork and several other offerings from the new menu. The Veggie Pot Stickers were wonderfully light and crisp but would benefit from a more inventive mix of stuffing. Mine were very heavy on mashed potato taste and little else. I'll try them with shrimp next time. And...I noticed from the Natasha's Calendar that the start times for many of the music and variety acts have been rolled back to 9 rather than 8. In the past I've found myself racing to get through dinner and conversation before that kicked in as it can be very difficult to hear once it starts. Kudos to the management on that! As always the warmth and friendliness of the staff from bartenders to the management and wait staff was superb. I've never been treated with anything but warm smiles, friendly banter and open arms. In summing up, a visit to Natasha's feels like a sojourn into an exotic new destination while vacationing with a welcome side of hometown hospitality. An enthusiastic 'thumbs up'.
(5)
Allie F.
I had lunch at Natasha's with my family a few weeks ago on Thursday. We had wandered down from Thursday night live because it was so cold and we wanted real food. Oh, did we get it. The menu rotates seasonally, which I love because it means you are always getting vegetables that are in season, AND they source locally. The beef is also locally sourced, a grass fed and grain fed combo. We had trouble deciding on food, everyone had dishes they were torn between, and none of them were the same. There's a wide variety, with something for every taste. I ended up getting the sliders (I was craving a burger) with fries, my husband had the hot brown, MiL got the chicken Alfredo, and my FiL had the crab cakes. I got to try everyone's dish except my FiL and oh-em-gee everything was delicious! There was a slight twist on everything, so it was simultaneously what you expected and not at all what you expected. Pesto in the Alfredo! Paprika in the hot brown! Garlic on the fries, and a Caprese slider in the trio (which also included a regular slider, and a rotating slider, which was pulled pork-different but spot on!) If you happen to go, ask for Aaron. He was without a doubt the most polite server I've ever had. The chef hadn't told them the special when we first sat, and he was very gracious about checking on that for us. We kept forgetting things and he just smiled like it was no big deal. Oh almost forgot, coconut bread pudding was great. Not for purists, but great for everyone else.
(4)
Amy N.
What a crash and burn experience this was! I have dined at Natasha's several times in the past, and really enjoyed it. This time was a joke. * I don't drink, so asked for iced tea- unsweetened. Waitress brought syrupy-sweet tea- ok, whatever, but the regular tea had not been brewed yet, and the sweet tea was in the wrong container. Um, ok. Rather than wait, how about a Pelligrino or Perrier? Nope. Really? Ok, club soda? Finally. Not a big deal, but it's telling of what was to come. *I have tried Natasha's Vegan Midnight Curry before and loved it, but decided to go with a couple of the small dish choices and an appetizer as my dinner. First, I ordered the Vegetable Skewers, "Two skewers served with choice of marinated seasonal vegetables, chicken or shrimp. Served on a bed of cilantro lime rice- 7.99" Hold on here, guys. It says Skewers, NOT toothpicks. Yup, this dish was 4 3" toothpicks (complete with cellophane decoration) with barely cooked veggies on them. Cherry tomatoes, yellow squash, green pepper & red pepper. I'm not kidding when I say barely cooked. The cilantro-lime rice?? White rice with a few flecks of green. *I also ordered a Mezze Platter, which is a combo of any 3 from the "sides" menu. Mine was to be Hummus with pita, Global Grain Salad (Cous Cous, parsley, cranberries, onions, celery and carrots tossed with our house made vinaigrette), and finally the Tabouleh, (Middle Eastern salad of cracked wheat, parsley, tomatoes, onions and mint.) As a vegan, I eat my share of Mediterranean food, and I know what Tabouleh should be like. This was the weirdest concoction ever. It was all grains, with a few flecks of parsley. Huh? I called the waitress over because I wasn't sure I even got the dish I ordered. She said "that's how it always looks". The other grain salad could have been good but all I could taste was vinegar. To top it off, I asked for both of my dishes to be served together, but nope, couldn't do that either. 10 minutes between the two. This was with only a few tables being served. Our waitress did not know the menu and had to ask about everything, and I do mean everything. I don't know what has happened here, but I'm just relieved that our friends couldn't join us for dinner that evening, or I would have been terribly embarrassed. Never, ever going back.
(1)
Elle E J.
This was my favorite place to eat when I lived in Lexington and tried to get there every other week. My favorite dishes include the Hoppin Juans and the bison burger. The wine list, while not expansive or inexpensive, was also a huge plus. (You'll find that decent wine is difficult to come by outside of the nicest restaurants.) As noted in previous reviews, don't go expecting a speedy meal. I find that they compensate for the time issues with friendly servers and they usually have some form of entertainment.
(4)
Dory B.
This is by far the coolest spot in Lexington and perhaps all of Kentucky. The food is good, service is friendly and when they have music it's a fun time.
(5)
Jesse C.
Of course I read all the reviews on yelp before planning my 21st anniversary of the day we met. (Can't believe We are still that) Decided to surprise my wife with dinner and some music but didn't realize I was in for one of the best nights since moving here. I had reservation and arrived with no issues. Parking was free so the night is already perfect. We arrived and paid the cover for the band. They say is directly in front of the stage. The food was amazing and the waiters seems to have a degree in foodieism (not a real degree). This guy was constantly use descriptor words making the food sound ridiculously tasty. He did the same with our drinks. My wife has so blackberry mottled thingy mixed drink with a fancy garnish. It was really good. I had the bourbon trio. I can't remember too much after that. Lol The food was almost better than the descriptor words I mentioned above. Then the true prize of the night was the band. These dude where amazing.
(5)
Patrick K.
Perfect proportions. Creative menu, slightly smaller selection, but all over the map. We had the surf & turf and Fettuccini. Both were fantastic. Good ambiance, great bourbon selection. Live music the night we went included a Cello vocalist who was phenomenal. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting Lexington.
(5)
Aaron R.
Went for lunch today, in a business meeting. Was greeted at the door immediately, got a great seat at the window, some interesting folks walk by, making for good people watching. Ordered the Bahn Mi Sliders, three double cooked pork sliders, with plenty of flavor and the pork is delicious, taking the recommendation of my server Lindsay. Lindsay provided very timely service, and was fun and friendly to interact with. Looking forward to my next trip back. Volume level was very conducive to conducting a business lunch inside.
(5)
Duke B.
My wife and I recently had dinner at Natasha's and we were both very pleased with the food and the service. My wife had the fish and I had a grilled chicken and both were exceptional. Our waitress was very attentive and the manager stopped by our table to make sure things were satisfactory. I am looking forward to my next visit to Natasha's. I should also mention that the food prices were very reasonable as well.
(5)
Nick B.
This is a good place to stop for weekend brunch. During the summer I enjoy a Saturday brunch here after hitting the downtown farmers market. I am pretty sure they are closed for Sunday lunch time, sadly. I've heard they have a drag queen show with brunch on Sundays every now and then, but I've never been. The highlight of all entrees I've tried here has been the french fries! They are fresh potatoes with chunks of garlic and spices and just really, really good.
(4)
Mokes A.
We stopped in on a Monday night as we were road tripping back from STL to DC. They have some great vegan options. Husband got the curry, which was super good. I got a cup of borscht and the stuffed portobello, also delicious. 4 not 5 stars because the meat eaters were not as happy. The pork belly came out without half its sides and was a small portion. I'd love to go back for music sometime. Their beer list looked pretty great too.
(4)
Joseph O.
I'm just not feeling it. I decided to go back here for lunch, for my first time in probably 5+ years. I figured I'd try them again and see if they'd improved. The fact that they've had a guy walking around downtown Lexington handing out flyers for them made me think that maybe they'd revitalized their place and were wanting to take a second look, so I thought I'd do just that. I wanted to try something different, and while I had been underwhelmed by my prior experiences, I was willing to be open to the idea that they had improved. Not really. The little curio shop is gone, and there's a large stage taking its place. When I walked in during lunch on a Wednsday, the place was so dark, and there was only one table in the corner with someone at it (on a laptop working busily) that when a server finally came up to me I had to ask if they were even open. As I had previously remembered, the food was overpriced, and the food was mediocre. I had a barbeque sandwich which managed to make chicken barbeque virtually flavorless. The sauce was pink, and I couldn't make out any "barbeque" flavor, it wasn't smoky, or sweet, or spicy, it was just a vague creamy texture with no apparent flavor. The only texture was added by the carrots and cabbage slaw that was added to the barbeque mixture. They also got my order wrong. There was a choice of side dishes: french fries or pasta salad. I clearly asked for fries. They brought salad, and the server basically tried to argue with me that I'd ordered salad. I'm not normally a big fan of pasta salads, so I can't say much good about it, but it was okay for what it was. Here's what I'll say the good parts were: The bun for the barbeque sandwich was great, with a fluffy yet crispy texture. The iced tea was definitely not a typical commercial iced tea blend, it was slightly more robust and had some complicated flavors which made it clear that they were using a wholly different tea than is typical for their iced tea.
(2)
Martin C.
Everything is overpriced. You had to pay $12 to be near the music otherwise they stuff you in the far corner. The food is over priced with super tiny portions. Our one meal pork belly was disgusting and had to be returned. Waitress was super nice and took it back and issued a refund. Stroganoff was super average but the mezze salads were pretty good. The interior of the bar/restaurant is pretty cool and the music was good. I just don't know why they lay out the food like you're at a three star Michelin restaurant. One cube of this. A small spatter of that and a drip of this. You leave the place starving and broke.
(3)
Jerry A.
This place is unique on several levels, but I their food is what I feel gives them their identity. I had the beef tenderloin special and I was stunned with the explosion of flavors. The meat was so delicately tender, I could have used a spoon to cut it. I would hazard to say that it was probably in the top 5 for my favorite cuts of meat ever. The drink menu is small, but they still offer a great selection. As for the staff, I think this is what hipster is all about. If I had 2 more hours in the place, I would be writing this review on a mechanical typewriter! Seriously though, good people and I'm pretty sure they don't bite. They were extremely knowledgeable about the menu and offered great advice. If you had a bad experience before with this place, I would advise that you give it another shot.
(5)
Megan M.
The live music and atmosphere is great but the food and drink prices are high for what you get.
(3)
Natacha D.
We played a show here in the back room, which has curtains around it to keep the sound out of the main dining area. It wasn't well-attended, but the audience that was there was a good one- interested and enthusiastic. The food here is spectacular. The chef really cares about it and will talk to you about his cooking with excitement for as long as you will listen, which makes the whole meal even better. Apparently the bistro half chicken was the best that my bandmates had ever had, and possibly even one of the best foods they had ever eaten. I had the thai curry which was pretty good, and also had some of the pasta primavera which was great- they cook the sauce and the pasta together in the pan so it really coats the noodles. The chef offered to make a jerk-stuffed portabella mushroom, which I sort of regret not taking him up on, but it was after a big meal already... The drinks were awesome- we sat at the bar and it was the bartender's first day, and he was super friendly and made us great drinks, especially the sweet tea. Highly recommend this place if you're passing through Lexington!! Also there's a great airbnb place nearby which is also highly recommended!
(5)
Enrique G.
Been here twice. Personally I love the ambiance and the music. The shows are impressive. The only issue I have is with service. It can take 30 minutes to get attention from the waiter and 30 minutes to get a drink. The food for me was not impressive. On the other hand, the shows are wonderful!
(4)
Ashley L.
I really can't stand this place. I don't understand the concept of a buffet when they never replenish it! And even if they do it's not when I'm there. Both times I've been I've walked out hungry and dissatisfied. Random and not well thought out in my opinion.
(1)
Heather V.
This review is for the Sunday Drag Queen Brunch. The buffet brunch is $18 and is delicious. I think there were at least 20 different items - and I tried to get a little of everything - all of it was really tasty. The stand-outs for me were the sweatened whipped cream cheese and home made bread, the potato salad (with a little curry?), the stewed apple pastry, and the country biscuits and gravy. Coffee was an additional $3 - but it was really good coffee and they kept it coming. Champagne coctails are $6 and the atmosphere will encourage you to order a couple or 3 (I love the Bellini's.) Then there is the show. The cost of the show is not really included in the brunch price. As each diva does her performance, she walks around to all of the tables and you hold up a dollar bill. You do not want to be the person who does not hold up a dollar - that queen will stare you down for her due. At our show there were 5 performers - and they each came out at least 3 times each (but we had to leave at noon) so I'd plan on bringing $20 for the show - there is someone there who will make change for you. All together it was about $60 per person and I feel completely worth it. It was the kind of experience I'd expect to find in Chicago or Las Vegas, not Lexington, and Lexington should be proud.
(4)
Pat J.
I really enjoy this place despite the 2 star rating. Service was excellent, although very slow as our waiter was busy with several large parties. I had the Amalfi Coast with a side Greek salad. The salad came out first, and was a mix of not so fresh spinach and romaine that was hand shredded into pieces way too big. The Amalfi Coast came highly recommended by the waiter, but wasn't that exciting. The mussels and shrimp were cooked okay, but overall the flavor was just a very basic lemon caper oil. A friend had a chicken salad sandwich with fries that looked good. The entertainment was awesome, a good bluegrass band that jammed hard despite the small crowd. As a plus the waiter did not charge us cover since we came earlier to eat. We will be back but probably not for dinner. This place has a lot of potential, I hope the kitchen steps it up a notch.
(2)
Joshua R.
Oh dear, oh dear, what to say about Natasha's? It's a nice venue for low-key shows, and I will probably be back for that, but I will never willingly pay money for any product of their kitchen again. They have pretensions of good food, and prices to match, but none of the skill or quality necessary. No attention to detail, to the extent that a dish explicitly marked as vegan came out coated in cheese and sour cream. Nothing had a flavor, ingredients were very poor quality. We were informed when we placed our orders that the menus we were given was in incorrect and their dishes had changed. Fair enough; could we have updated or corrected menus, or a lost of the changes? no, not possible. This is fine at a low-cost place, I understand, but their entrees clock in at 15-20 dollars. They can afford to write down a list of changes. Wrong orders were brought out, and staff attempted to convince us that we had not ordered what we distinctly did. Staff could not answer very basic questions about drink menu, did not even offer to find out the answer, opting for staring blankly instead. Protip: if your basic inputs are cheap, drown it in a strongly flavored sauce, or your skimping becomes very obvious. If someone insisted on buying me dinner there, I would eat half of my dish to be polite, or at least try to. Otherwise, I will be sticking to things that come out of bottles, because there is limited scope for f'ing things up.
(1)
Zach J.
My friends and I went there for a Friday night outing and I wasn't too impressed. The main positives being: my food was really good (Penne a la Vodka with shrimp) and the band Alma Gitana provided great background music. They really rocked out. However, I would have rated this higher if it weren't for the following: I was really the only person satisfied with my meal, we had to wait a ridiculous amount of time for our salads and entrees to come out (we were there for a total of 3 hours), and when we asked why our food was taking so long (after waiting 45 minutes for our salad), our waitress replied "You came in behind a table of 15 so you'll have to wait".
(3)
Joe S.
The menu was interesting and the food was good. We must have been their on an understaffed night because no one was there on waiter was barely there too. The one thing that made my meal great was the borscht. Other than that, the food was ok.
(3)
Kristina P.
It's pretty good food - the pot pie is delish- and the atmosphere is kinda cool. The prices (too much for that food) and parking are what keep me from going more often. I've heard they have good performances there.
(3)
Troy H.
Left before the entertainment started, but we enjoyed the great food and spirits. Staff was friendly.
I like the idea of it, but the execution needs some work. The food is great, the ambiance and the drinks too. Somehow though, it just did not work out the other night. Through some kind of misunderstanding the server thought we underpaid, when in fact we has all overpaid significantly. I guess there are better places for groups in Lex. I will give it another shot, maybe.
(3)
AM M.
Disappointing... Waiter was very attentive at first, then seemed to disappear as he may have been one of only two waitstaff for the entire restaurant. Spinach and artichoke dip was definitely different as it seemed to have hummus in it (or ground artichoke?) which muted the other flavors. Fru fru Salad felt like a rip off with mostly lettuce and very few of the promised toppings (onion, oranges, almonds, squash, etc). "Space Burger" Bison burger was standard, cooked as ordered but nothing spectacular. Setting was comfortable and a neat place with the theater. We'd come back for theater but not for the restaurant.
(2)
Steven G.
This place was very unique and extremely awesome. Relaxing atmosphere and great food.
(5)
Sean S.
Nestled in the middle of Lexington's thriving downtown is, wait for it....dinner theatre! Now I'm not sure at all how the dinner theatre turns out because well, they seated us to the side of the entrance where we got to see not one piece of the actual show that somehow involved the Pillsbury doughboy. The background on this place is that the owner's younger wife envisioned herself an actress and he bought this place where she gets to showcase her talent here with an assortment of other performers. The little cove gave us privacy for our large group but apparently our inability to see that performance was ongoing led us to not realize we were loud and could be overheard. Well you know, better lay out the seats is all I can say because the wine was good and our server dutiful.
(4)
blue t.
The food is terrific and so's the ambiance but the service has always been incredibly slow. I've had to go to the bar to get a refill on my water and search the place for my waiter to find the check because they are nowhere to be found. People are friendly enough (though the owner/manager has been rude when I've asked him to help me find a server), but give yourself ample time if you've got to be somewhere after dinner!
(3)
Mona O.
San Francisco Bay Area folks will feel right at home here! I visited Kentucky for a wedding, and loved this place. Delicious vegetarian options. I don't see the Ivan the Terrible shake on the menu any more, but dang that was good! Cute ambiance with trinkets from around the world. Very kind and gracious server. Cute adjoining shop.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Average Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Abhay K.
I had dinner at Natasha's when I was visiting Lexington a few months ago and thought it was great. It's a little bistro and for a person from New York, it feels like home. They have a great menu with plenty of vegetarian options. The wine list is small but definitely good and the waiters know what they're talking about. It's a great spot for two or for a small group.
(5)Bob B.
Made it downtown again during lunchtime today so decided to try somewhere I'd not been in several years. A pal had recently told me that Natasha's had shifted their focus somewhat and when I peeked at their website I saw a Monday lunch special offered: $6.00 for a bottomless bowl of pasta. Sounded perfect to me since my business was taking me to the County Clerk's office little more than a block away. I swear I'm not what would be considered high maintenance. I walked in to Natasha's about 1:30, definitely within their lunch hours and I was hoping there would not be much of a crowd at that hour. I was right! Only three tables of the 20+ were occupied. I looked around for a few seconds and then the host took me by surprise because he was sitting at a table near the door, wearing very casual clothing and playing with his phone before asking if he could help me. I replied that I heard they'd refreshed the menu and that I was looking forward to trying the Monday pasta special. He told me that I was out of luck, that it was dinner only. He walked me over to a large printout of their menu to show me and, lo and behold, it said that they offered it for lunch, for $6 vs dinnertime's $10. With no apology he put me at the closest possible table to the door (that he wasn't sitting at). Luckily, the waitress seemed much more with it. She came directly over to me from taking one of the other table's orders, was friendly and cheerful. I said "I'll make this easy, I know exactly what I would like: the daily pasta bowl special." Of course she asked for my drink order and I assured her that I needed no drink, had plenty of water and tea earlier in the day, and that it was one less thing for her to worry about. She seemed perplexed and offered again to bring me a water. I smilingly repeated "No drink thanks, I'm good, I'll just take a bowl of the daily pasta special". She laughed and it felt flirty and fun and I was prepared to tip her beyond what would be expected for a bowl of pasta and no drink. 25 minutes later and I was still waiting on a bowl of the advertised daily special pasta. I'm a bachelor, I'm not high maintenance, I've worked service industry jobs aplenty so I understand that it can be a thankless situation. BUT if your restaurant is not busy and you've advertised a daily special and you are situated where you are expected to serve lunch to folks who need to be in-and-out during their office lunchbreaks and you're not dealing with serving drinks... 25 minutes is too long to wait. If they are in a crunch, perhaps someone called in sick, then the host could jump in to help take some plates out to tables. But no. While I sat there waiting I witnessed two more customers come in (one solo, one couple) and the host had to get up from his table and away from his phone to help them, going back to sitting down with his phone both times. Natasha's is almost a Lexington institution. I remember having several delicious meals of Russian cuisine at their first incarnation on Southland Drive over 20 years ago. I've been a handful of times over the years, a nice place to take a date for dinner before a movie across the street at the Kentucky Theater. They've managed to stay in business and grow and establish quite a following over the years. Today's experience makes me really wonder what's happened. Long story short, I left before my food came out. I really hate to do that but my parking garage tally was ticking ever-upwards. It will take several more recommendations before I can consider giving them another chance. There are many many other restaurants downtown - next time daytime business takes me down there I'll try somewhere else.
(1)Chris P.
This place is refreshing for Lexington. It's like hippies meet jazz. We brought our own wine and had a 3 course meal. Most everything was good. The Bison burger was not the best but edible. The peach pie was outstanding. There was a band playing in the backround and that was nice to see that, especially for free. Great funk band. Our waitress was chill and relaxed. We got a window seat and got to people watch while drinking mass amounts of Malbec. We also dipped in to the wine list that they offered, which was ok.
(4)Jerry N.
My dinner at Natasha's came about due to a Yelp search from the comfort of a Holiday Inn Express while visiting Lexington a few months back (prior to moving here this summer). During my search, it became apparent that there is a much smaller population of active Yelpers in Lexington than in some of the places I've lived before, but size isn't everything and Natasha's was rated highly enough. Yelp had rarely led me astray before, so I felt confident in my choice. Unfortunately, my confidence may have been misplaced on this occasion. I had one of the burgers, and while somewhat underwhelming, it was passable. The fries, however, were limp, greasy, and room temperature. My wife and life-long partner in crime ordered the vegetarian Thai peanut stir-fry. It wasn't very Thai, and it wasn't stellar. It lacked any memorable flavor, texture, or color for me to even recall now. I will say that the environment seemed pleasant enough, and though we didn't stay for the stage-show that night, I could see myself enjoying Natasha's significantly more with the right musical accompaniment. Perhaps my expectations were too high, or just out of sync with what Natasha's is going for, but this was definitely a "miss" for us.
(2)Brad C.
An A for effort? Love the vibe. The idea, is perfect. The service is fine. The menu is frozen in time. The prices are ridiculous. Lunch, is ridiculous. Never been for a show. Maybe I will give it another shot soon. It's hard to complain, I've just never been blown away by any aspect of this place. Love what they bring to the city for others, it just might not be for me.
(3)Chris F.
Natasha's is a very West Coast kindofa place right in the middle of Lexington. It would fit perfectly in The Bay Area, Portland or Seattle. It's got a cool, chill nightlife vibe very different from the Wildcat jello shot orgy that takes place a couple blocks away on Friday nights. They have dinner theater apparently, although I went on a night they had live music, and you can enjoy it with a really good glass of wine. They also run a lunch buffet, which is definitely not as good as the dinners. It's cafeteria style, they weigh your food like they do in Brazil and charge you based on how much it weighs. The jalapeño cheese grits taste almost exactly like the jalapeño cheddar cheese spread you can get in US military issued Meals Ready to Eat (MRE), which is not exactly high praise, but there are definitely worse military ration menu items to be compared to...it gave me a Pavlovian craving for Ranger pudding...
(4)Lacey P.
Great eclectic music that is unbeatable anywhere. Good food. Service can be iffy.
(4)Beth C.
Redid their lunch buffet. Very good value! $7.50 all you can eat. Always delicious food.
(5)Scott S.
This is a funky, but fun place. I went here with colleagues and was told "We're having theater in restaurant tonight." We didn't sit where we could see the actors, but we could hear them and it sounded funny. The play was fairly short and from a local theater group. I ordered the midnight chicken which was stewed chicken in a mild curry sauce with cauliflower, raisins and carrots over rice. It was accompanied by a very tasty Greek salad. Others ordered the pot pie and wrap and reported them as being quite tasty. The wine list is modest, but great prices! I can't remember when we drank a decent bottle of wine in a restaurant for $22! Service was attentive and prompt. The server was nice enough to let us know that if we didn't order drinks before the play started, she'd have to wait until it was over. That speed us along! This was also one of the least expensive business dinners I've ever had, just $25 per person including tip. Check it out. I went because of other Yelpers and am glad I did.
(4)Matt O.
The atmosphere and show made the night. I like big open spaces and this is one. The lighting and decor create a neat ambiance that is neither bright nor dark. Show was good and server was attentive but non-intrusive. The caesar salad was overpriced at $6 for lettuce and croutons, but still tasted good. We had the chocolate dessert, which was delicious. We'll be back for a full dinner and another show as soon as possible.
(4)Sue B.
While on vacation for a week in Lexington, we frequented this restaurant twice. It's kind of a funky place, but fun. The food was very good and the staff very friendly. My husband loved the pot pie and the warm chocolate chip cookies were delicious. This restaurant was very accommodating as they hosted our cycling club of about 50 people.
(4)Pepper T.
Headed here tonight watch a comic preform. Really enjoyed the layout of the restaurant. It was kinda slow, and my husband and I could have a wonderful, slightly romantic time. Our waiter was attentive and friendly. We explained we came here for the show that starts later and he timed delivery of our food very nicely. Our meals were fantastic.Place was relaxing and we will be back in the future.
(4)Emily B.
I've been here a couple of times since my last review, and it's gotten worse quickly. Today was BAD. My husband and I shared an order of 6 wings as an appetizer, then each had lunch (and our son ate some of everything). Oh my GARLIC. EVERYTHING on my plate was overpowered by garlic! The wings had had garlic in their description, so that doesn't really bother me (though a better balance of flavors would have been nice), but my vegetable wrap had so much garlic I couldn't taste anything else, the fries were soggy, limp, and covered in garlic, and even the side of Ranch dressing I'd requested had huge chunks of garlic in it! Gross. I literally couldn't eat most of my meal, and have no intention of ever returning. Our waitress was really nice, which is all that kept this from a 1-star review. The kitchen deserves 0 stars though. The food was awful, and it took 30 minutes to get our food with no other customers in the place (and we ordered a sandwich and a wrap).
(2)Stephanie H.
I love this little local spot so much I have been two times in 3 days since I found it. I would actually just come back for the French fries! The menu selection is wonderful, the staff is welcoming and courteous, the atmosphere is charming! The patio is a great spot for lunching and the dining room for dinner is cozy. It looks as if they have live entertainment as well. If you are in the area...this is a must!
(5)Brian G.
Great atmosphere and fantastic music venue. Best hot brown I've had. Service was very good and it was a fun crowd. Not much of a draft beer selection if that's what you are looking for. If you ever get a chance to hear The Northside Sheiks definitely go. They are incredible. I would go see The Landers on their own. Great music.
(5)Olwen C.
Lunch is great! The fries are very, very good. Lots of garlic in everything. Yum!
(4)Jim W.
Food was good. Service was okay. Problem was noise level, due to a packed house, and very poor acoustics, made it extremely difficult, I.e., virtually impossible to have a conversation at our 4-top table. When we politely asked our waitress if they could turn off, or perhaps turn down the sound system, which could not be heard over the noise level, but which added greatly to the noise, she said yes. It was turned off for about 10 minutes, then turned back on at the same level as before, with no explanation, or apology, whatsoever.
(3)Allison D.
I used to be a huge fan and supporter of Natasha's - all the way back to the days when half of the space was an incredible eclectic and international boutique. Tonight I was terribly disappointed in my meal. The Szechuan Satay had bad flavor, some undercooked and some overcooked chicken, too-al dente rice (some was barely cooked), and bland veggies. And it was $15. I have had better similar meals in airport food courts. Disappointed and don't plan l go back.
(2)William G.
i don't think this was meant to really be a restaurant so much as a venue that lucked into a pretty good chef or two. don't get me wrong; the food is good. mine and my companions' meals were well received, although the portions were a little low for such an expensive plate of goulash. the atmosphere is nice. the restaurant is well kept, and while the decor is nothing out of the ordinary, it's nice and gets the job done without being too kitschy. it's the staff that keeps me from rating this higher. i have been during both a musical performance and an improv show and the staff, including the owners, were far more interesting in what was happening on stage than their customers. our waitress had to be tracked down every time. i am not one to expect slavish devotion to my table, or hold my service industry friends to some ridiculous standard of manners, but i think they should come by at least once after the food is served. if this is not a quibble for you, then i would definitely say go. the food is worth the price and the entertainment wasn't bad either.
(3)Denika C.
come here for poetry slams, live music, brunch with drag queens, food, & tea. beetnik.com
(5)Ross M.
Worlds best chocolate cake, hell chocolate anything. This is my standard desert place. When I want desert I don't even bother looking what other places have to offer, I go here and get their chocolate cake, mmmmm. I've had dinner here before as well, it's good, but not my kind of stuff. I've had other deserts (in addition to the cake of course) and they were good as well, but I so miss being able to get this cake.
(5)Samantha G.
I've only been here once, for lunch, and I didn't have dessert. But what I did have was excellent service, a lovely eating environment, and a slamming plate of hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh salad, and some sort of mushroom salad. It was super yummy and filling, but still light. I also really like the boutique next door. I bought some really cute shoes to go along with my tasty meal.
(4)Divinyl F.
Hooray for the new Natasha's! One of my favorite haunts going all the way back to their Southland Drive days has upped their game. Natasha's has a very unique and cool ambience that I love. The uber cool Moroccan feel of the arches and lanterns is trumped only by the friendliness of the staff. Absolutely love the Alley Bar at the back of the restaurant. It's intimate, friendly and after a few visits, feels like home base. My only issues with Natasha's in the past have been the menu's lack of lower price points and limited choices in the appetizer/small plate category. Both have been dealt with admirably since their recent re-imagining of things. I sampled a plethora of the new offerings and give a hearty thumbs up to the Bahn-Mi Sliders, crab cakes, hummus and pita points as well as their braised pork and several other offerings from the new menu. The Veggie Pot Stickers were wonderfully light and crisp but would benefit from a more inventive mix of stuffing. Mine were very heavy on mashed potato taste and little else. I'll try them with shrimp next time. And...I noticed from the Natasha's Calendar that the start times for many of the music and variety acts have been rolled back to 9 rather than 8. In the past I've found myself racing to get through dinner and conversation before that kicked in as it can be very difficult to hear once it starts. Kudos to the management on that! As always the warmth and friendliness of the staff from bartenders to the management and wait staff was superb. I've never been treated with anything but warm smiles, friendly banter and open arms. In summing up, a visit to Natasha's feels like a sojourn into an exotic new destination while vacationing with a welcome side of hometown hospitality. An enthusiastic 'thumbs up'.
(5)Allie F.
I had lunch at Natasha's with my family a few weeks ago on Thursday. We had wandered down from Thursday night live because it was so cold and we wanted real food. Oh, did we get it. The menu rotates seasonally, which I love because it means you are always getting vegetables that are in season, AND they source locally. The beef is also locally sourced, a grass fed and grain fed combo. We had trouble deciding on food, everyone had dishes they were torn between, and none of them were the same. There's a wide variety, with something for every taste. I ended up getting the sliders (I was craving a burger) with fries, my husband had the hot brown, MiL got the chicken Alfredo, and my FiL had the crab cakes. I got to try everyone's dish except my FiL and oh-em-gee everything was delicious! There was a slight twist on everything, so it was simultaneously what you expected and not at all what you expected. Pesto in the Alfredo! Paprika in the hot brown! Garlic on the fries, and a Caprese slider in the trio (which also included a regular slider, and a rotating slider, which was pulled pork-different but spot on!) If you happen to go, ask for Aaron. He was without a doubt the most polite server I've ever had. The chef hadn't told them the special when we first sat, and he was very gracious about checking on that for us. We kept forgetting things and he just smiled like it was no big deal. Oh almost forgot, coconut bread pudding was great. Not for purists, but great for everyone else.
(4)Amy N.
What a crash and burn experience this was! I have dined at Natasha's several times in the past, and really enjoyed it. This time was a joke. * I don't drink, so asked for iced tea- unsweetened. Waitress brought syrupy-sweet tea- ok, whatever, but the regular tea had not been brewed yet, and the sweet tea was in the wrong container. Um, ok. Rather than wait, how about a Pelligrino or Perrier? Nope. Really? Ok, club soda? Finally. Not a big deal, but it's telling of what was to come. *I have tried Natasha's Vegan Midnight Curry before and loved it, but decided to go with a couple of the small dish choices and an appetizer as my dinner. First, I ordered the Vegetable Skewers, "Two skewers served with choice of marinated seasonal vegetables, chicken or shrimp. Served on a bed of cilantro lime rice- 7.99" Hold on here, guys. It says Skewers, NOT toothpicks. Yup, this dish was 4 3" toothpicks (complete with cellophane decoration) with barely cooked veggies on them. Cherry tomatoes, yellow squash, green pepper & red pepper. I'm not kidding when I say barely cooked. The cilantro-lime rice?? White rice with a few flecks of green. *I also ordered a Mezze Platter, which is a combo of any 3 from the "sides" menu. Mine was to be Hummus with pita, Global Grain Salad (Cous Cous, parsley, cranberries, onions, celery and carrots tossed with our house made vinaigrette), and finally the Tabouleh, (Middle Eastern salad of cracked wheat, parsley, tomatoes, onions and mint.) As a vegan, I eat my share of Mediterranean food, and I know what Tabouleh should be like. This was the weirdest concoction ever. It was all grains, with a few flecks of parsley. Huh? I called the waitress over because I wasn't sure I even got the dish I ordered. She said "that's how it always looks". The other grain salad could have been good but all I could taste was vinegar. To top it off, I asked for both of my dishes to be served together, but nope, couldn't do that either. 10 minutes between the two. This was with only a few tables being served. Our waitress did not know the menu and had to ask about everything, and I do mean everything. I don't know what has happened here, but I'm just relieved that our friends couldn't join us for dinner that evening, or I would have been terribly embarrassed. Never, ever going back.
(1)Elle E J.
This was my favorite place to eat when I lived in Lexington and tried to get there every other week. My favorite dishes include the Hoppin Juans and the bison burger. The wine list, while not expansive or inexpensive, was also a huge plus. (You'll find that decent wine is difficult to come by outside of the nicest restaurants.) As noted in previous reviews, don't go expecting a speedy meal. I find that they compensate for the time issues with friendly servers and they usually have some form of entertainment.
(4)Dory B.
This is by far the coolest spot in Lexington and perhaps all of Kentucky. The food is good, service is friendly and when they have music it's a fun time.
(5)Jesse C.
Of course I read all the reviews on yelp before planning my 21st anniversary of the day we met. (Can't believe We are still that) Decided to surprise my wife with dinner and some music but didn't realize I was in for one of the best nights since moving here. I had reservation and arrived with no issues. Parking was free so the night is already perfect. We arrived and paid the cover for the band. They say is directly in front of the stage. The food was amazing and the waiters seems to have a degree in foodieism (not a real degree). This guy was constantly use descriptor words making the food sound ridiculously tasty. He did the same with our drinks. My wife has so blackberry mottled thingy mixed drink with a fancy garnish. It was really good. I had the bourbon trio. I can't remember too much after that. Lol The food was almost better than the descriptor words I mentioned above. Then the true prize of the night was the band. These dude where amazing.
(5)Patrick K.
Perfect proportions. Creative menu, slightly smaller selection, but all over the map. We had the surf & turf and Fettuccini. Both were fantastic. Good ambiance, great bourbon selection. Live music the night we went included a Cello vocalist who was phenomenal. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting Lexington.
(5)Aaron R.
Went for lunch today, in a business meeting. Was greeted at the door immediately, got a great seat at the window, some interesting folks walk by, making for good people watching. Ordered the Bahn Mi Sliders, three double cooked pork sliders, with plenty of flavor and the pork is delicious, taking the recommendation of my server Lindsay. Lindsay provided very timely service, and was fun and friendly to interact with. Looking forward to my next trip back. Volume level was very conducive to conducting a business lunch inside.
(5)Duke B.
My wife and I recently had dinner at Natasha's and we were both very pleased with the food and the service. My wife had the fish and I had a grilled chicken and both were exceptional. Our waitress was very attentive and the manager stopped by our table to make sure things were satisfactory. I am looking forward to my next visit to Natasha's. I should also mention that the food prices were very reasonable as well.
(5)Nick B.
This is a good place to stop for weekend brunch. During the summer I enjoy a Saturday brunch here after hitting the downtown farmers market. I am pretty sure they are closed for Sunday lunch time, sadly. I've heard they have a drag queen show with brunch on Sundays every now and then, but I've never been. The highlight of all entrees I've tried here has been the french fries! They are fresh potatoes with chunks of garlic and spices and just really, really good.
(4)Mokes A.
We stopped in on a Monday night as we were road tripping back from STL to DC. They have some great vegan options. Husband got the curry, which was super good. I got a cup of borscht and the stuffed portobello, also delicious. 4 not 5 stars because the meat eaters were not as happy. The pork belly came out without half its sides and was a small portion. I'd love to go back for music sometime. Their beer list looked pretty great too.
(4)Joseph O.
I'm just not feeling it. I decided to go back here for lunch, for my first time in probably 5+ years. I figured I'd try them again and see if they'd improved. The fact that they've had a guy walking around downtown Lexington handing out flyers for them made me think that maybe they'd revitalized their place and were wanting to take a second look, so I thought I'd do just that. I wanted to try something different, and while I had been underwhelmed by my prior experiences, I was willing to be open to the idea that they had improved. Not really. The little curio shop is gone, and there's a large stage taking its place. When I walked in during lunch on a Wednsday, the place was so dark, and there was only one table in the corner with someone at it (on a laptop working busily) that when a server finally came up to me I had to ask if they were even open. As I had previously remembered, the food was overpriced, and the food was mediocre. I had a barbeque sandwich which managed to make chicken barbeque virtually flavorless. The sauce was pink, and I couldn't make out any "barbeque" flavor, it wasn't smoky, or sweet, or spicy, it was just a vague creamy texture with no apparent flavor. The only texture was added by the carrots and cabbage slaw that was added to the barbeque mixture. They also got my order wrong. There was a choice of side dishes: french fries or pasta salad. I clearly asked for fries. They brought salad, and the server basically tried to argue with me that I'd ordered salad. I'm not normally a big fan of pasta salads, so I can't say much good about it, but it was okay for what it was. Here's what I'll say the good parts were: The bun for the barbeque sandwich was great, with a fluffy yet crispy texture. The iced tea was definitely not a typical commercial iced tea blend, it was slightly more robust and had some complicated flavors which made it clear that they were using a wholly different tea than is typical for their iced tea.
(2)Martin C.
Everything is overpriced. You had to pay $12 to be near the music otherwise they stuff you in the far corner. The food is over priced with super tiny portions. Our one meal pork belly was disgusting and had to be returned. Waitress was super nice and took it back and issued a refund. Stroganoff was super average but the mezze salads were pretty good. The interior of the bar/restaurant is pretty cool and the music was good. I just don't know why they lay out the food like you're at a three star Michelin restaurant. One cube of this. A small spatter of that and a drip of this. You leave the place starving and broke.
(3)Jerry A.
This place is unique on several levels, but I their food is what I feel gives them their identity. I had the beef tenderloin special and I was stunned with the explosion of flavors. The meat was so delicately tender, I could have used a spoon to cut it. I would hazard to say that it was probably in the top 5 for my favorite cuts of meat ever. The drink menu is small, but they still offer a great selection. As for the staff, I think this is what hipster is all about. If I had 2 more hours in the place, I would be writing this review on a mechanical typewriter! Seriously though, good people and I'm pretty sure they don't bite. They were extremely knowledgeable about the menu and offered great advice. If you had a bad experience before with this place, I would advise that you give it another shot.
(5)Megan M.
The live music and atmosphere is great but the food and drink prices are high for what you get.
(3)Natacha D.
We played a show here in the back room, which has curtains around it to keep the sound out of the main dining area. It wasn't well-attended, but the audience that was there was a good one- interested and enthusiastic. The food here is spectacular. The chef really cares about it and will talk to you about his cooking with excitement for as long as you will listen, which makes the whole meal even better. Apparently the bistro half chicken was the best that my bandmates had ever had, and possibly even one of the best foods they had ever eaten. I had the thai curry which was pretty good, and also had some of the pasta primavera which was great- they cook the sauce and the pasta together in the pan so it really coats the noodles. The chef offered to make a jerk-stuffed portabella mushroom, which I sort of regret not taking him up on, but it was after a big meal already... The drinks were awesome- we sat at the bar and it was the bartender's first day, and he was super friendly and made us great drinks, especially the sweet tea. Highly recommend this place if you're passing through Lexington!! Also there's a great airbnb place nearby which is also highly recommended!
(5)Enrique G.
Been here twice. Personally I love the ambiance and the music. The shows are impressive. The only issue I have is with service. It can take 30 minutes to get attention from the waiter and 30 minutes to get a drink. The food for me was not impressive. On the other hand, the shows are wonderful!
(4)Ashley L.
I really can't stand this place. I don't understand the concept of a buffet when they never replenish it! And even if they do it's not when I'm there. Both times I've been I've walked out hungry and dissatisfied. Random and not well thought out in my opinion.
(1)Heather V.
This review is for the Sunday Drag Queen Brunch. The buffet brunch is $18 and is delicious. I think there were at least 20 different items - and I tried to get a little of everything - all of it was really tasty. The stand-outs for me were the sweatened whipped cream cheese and home made bread, the potato salad (with a little curry?), the stewed apple pastry, and the country biscuits and gravy. Coffee was an additional $3 - but it was really good coffee and they kept it coming. Champagne coctails are $6 and the atmosphere will encourage you to order a couple or 3 (I love the Bellini's.) Then there is the show. The cost of the show is not really included in the brunch price. As each diva does her performance, she walks around to all of the tables and you hold up a dollar bill. You do not want to be the person who does not hold up a dollar - that queen will stare you down for her due. At our show there were 5 performers - and they each came out at least 3 times each (but we had to leave at noon) so I'd plan on bringing $20 for the show - there is someone there who will make change for you. All together it was about $60 per person and I feel completely worth it. It was the kind of experience I'd expect to find in Chicago or Las Vegas, not Lexington, and Lexington should be proud.
(4)Pat J.
I really enjoy this place despite the 2 star rating. Service was excellent, although very slow as our waiter was busy with several large parties. I had the Amalfi Coast with a side Greek salad. The salad came out first, and was a mix of not so fresh spinach and romaine that was hand shredded into pieces way too big. The Amalfi Coast came highly recommended by the waiter, but wasn't that exciting. The mussels and shrimp were cooked okay, but overall the flavor was just a very basic lemon caper oil. A friend had a chicken salad sandwich with fries that looked good. The entertainment was awesome, a good bluegrass band that jammed hard despite the small crowd. As a plus the waiter did not charge us cover since we came earlier to eat. We will be back but probably not for dinner. This place has a lot of potential, I hope the kitchen steps it up a notch.
(2)Joshua R.
Oh dear, oh dear, what to say about Natasha's? It's a nice venue for low-key shows, and I will probably be back for that, but I will never willingly pay money for any product of their kitchen again. They have pretensions of good food, and prices to match, but none of the skill or quality necessary. No attention to detail, to the extent that a dish explicitly marked as vegan came out coated in cheese and sour cream. Nothing had a flavor, ingredients were very poor quality. We were informed when we placed our orders that the menus we were given was in incorrect and their dishes had changed. Fair enough; could we have updated or corrected menus, or a lost of the changes? no, not possible. This is fine at a low-cost place, I understand, but their entrees clock in at 15-20 dollars. They can afford to write down a list of changes. Wrong orders were brought out, and staff attempted to convince us that we had not ordered what we distinctly did. Staff could not answer very basic questions about drink menu, did not even offer to find out the answer, opting for staring blankly instead. Protip: if your basic inputs are cheap, drown it in a strongly flavored sauce, or your skimping becomes very obvious. If someone insisted on buying me dinner there, I would eat half of my dish to be polite, or at least try to. Otherwise, I will be sticking to things that come out of bottles, because there is limited scope for f'ing things up.
(1)Zach J.
My friends and I went there for a Friday night outing and I wasn't too impressed. The main positives being: my food was really good (Penne a la Vodka with shrimp) and the band Alma Gitana provided great background music. They really rocked out. However, I would have rated this higher if it weren't for the following: I was really the only person satisfied with my meal, we had to wait a ridiculous amount of time for our salads and entrees to come out (we were there for a total of 3 hours), and when we asked why our food was taking so long (after waiting 45 minutes for our salad), our waitress replied "You came in behind a table of 15 so you'll have to wait".
(3)Joe S.
The menu was interesting and the food was good. We must have been their on an understaffed night because no one was there on waiter was barely there too. The one thing that made my meal great was the borscht. Other than that, the food was ok.
(3)Kristina P.
It's pretty good food - the pot pie is delish- and the atmosphere is kinda cool. The prices (too much for that food) and parking are what keep me from going more often. I've heard they have good performances there.
(3)Troy H.
Left before the entertainment started, but we enjoyed the great food and spirits. Staff was friendly.
(4)Mary M.
I was so excited to see the improv show and made reservations for 2 at 8:00. The show was at 9. We arrived more than 30 minutes early and decided to have drinks at the bar before getting our table. The staff seemed distant and uninterested, eating and chatting with each other about unmentionable things... Once we sat ourselves at our reserved table, the service was slow but the waiter was pleasant. Most of the crowd arrived around the same time which may have slowed service, but (since there was a home basketball game this evening) there was a small crowd. When our food came, my soup of the day and my fiancé's goulash were barely warm. This was following a limp, lackluster Caesar salad. When brought back my fiancé didn't enjoy the dish. (the first time he has ever sent anything back)! We weren't charged for it and offered a dessert, which took a while, but was good. My chicken pot pie was piping hot and pretty good, overall the prices are way too much for the quality. Service from our waiter was nice and the show was great, But next time we will dine elsewhere and come for drinks and a show. Really don't understand the 4 star rating...
(2)Cinimod S.
I like the idea of it, but the execution needs some work. The food is great, the ambiance and the drinks too. Somehow though, it just did not work out the other night. Through some kind of misunderstanding the server thought we underpaid, when in fact we has all overpaid significantly. I guess there are better places for groups in Lex. I will give it another shot, maybe.
(3)AM M.
Disappointing... Waiter was very attentive at first, then seemed to disappear as he may have been one of only two waitstaff for the entire restaurant. Spinach and artichoke dip was definitely different as it seemed to have hummus in it (or ground artichoke?) which muted the other flavors. Fru fru Salad felt like a rip off with mostly lettuce and very few of the promised toppings (onion, oranges, almonds, squash, etc). "Space Burger" Bison burger was standard, cooked as ordered but nothing spectacular. Setting was comfortable and a neat place with the theater. We'd come back for theater but not for the restaurant.
(2)Steven G.
This place was very unique and extremely awesome. Relaxing atmosphere and great food.
(5)Sean S.
Nestled in the middle of Lexington's thriving downtown is, wait for it....dinner theatre! Now I'm not sure at all how the dinner theatre turns out because well, they seated us to the side of the entrance where we got to see not one piece of the actual show that somehow involved the Pillsbury doughboy. The background on this place is that the owner's younger wife envisioned herself an actress and he bought this place where she gets to showcase her talent here with an assortment of other performers. The little cove gave us privacy for our large group but apparently our inability to see that performance was ongoing led us to not realize we were loud and could be overheard. Well you know, better lay out the seats is all I can say because the wine was good and our server dutiful.
(4)blue t.
The food is terrific and so's the ambiance but the service has always been incredibly slow. I've had to go to the bar to get a refill on my water and search the place for my waiter to find the check because they are nowhere to be found. People are friendly enough (though the owner/manager has been rude when I've asked him to help me find a server), but give yourself ample time if you've got to be somewhere after dinner!
(3)Mona O.
San Francisco Bay Area folks will feel right at home here! I visited Kentucky for a wedding, and loved this place. Delicious vegetarian options. I don't see the Ivan the Terrible shake on the menu any more, but dang that was good! Cute ambiance with trinkets from around the world. Very kind and gracious server. Cute adjoining shop.
(5)