Visited Hall's several times, always friendly staff and excellent entrees. The atmosphere is excellent, short drive to really feel like you've gotten away from town.
(5)
Mallory S.
The atmosphere is cool and the point of really going, in my opinion, is for the drive out by the Kentucky River on a nice day and sitting on the deck, as the view is awesome. I had the fried mushrooms which tasted great but the price was too much for the portion size. My dad had a bowl of pasta that was $13 or $14 but the portion size was about $8 or $9 worth maybe and the pasta was okay. We had a laugh about the overpriced food, but the view is beautiful. I recommend going on a very nice day when you can sit on the deck and look out at the creek. There aren't too many vegetarian options, so I'd say this place is best for those who just love seafood. It's still a cool place to go, they just need to step up the food game or price it accordingly.
(3)
Buddy R.
We had been to Halls on previous trips to the Lexington Area (My daughter went to college there) so when we camped at the local state park on our return from Vacation we wanted to go back. I think it's gone downhill in the last few years - the location is still great but the sea food has gone "frozen, pre-breaded". I had the sea food feast - the shrimp were all bread, the scallops tasteless and the clams hard (probably because they were cooked in the same fryer with everything else and being smaller need to be cooked a shorter time). The catfish was the only fair item in the "feast" and it was just OK. My wife had a pork chop however that was fabulous - it was smoked with a deep smoke flavor and was HUGE. She was very happy which is why I gave it 3 stars. There were only a few tables in use when we were there - and the place used to be packed every night a few years ago. Sad, I wonder what happened?
(3)
Jonathan F.
This was my first time to Hall's. We didn't really have any expectations going in. The fried banana peppers were great! I tried the frog legs, which were also good. Prices weren't awful. Service was good. Sitting on the deck makes for a great atmosphere. My co-workers had the catfish and shrimp and grits. They had no complaints either. Nice place to go when you want something different.
(4)
Jim N.
Drove here for dinner tonight & wow; what a pleasant surprise. Beautiful rustic building on the river; large facility; varied menu & friendly service. Terrific fish dinner;have to return & try the steak! Best surprise this month!
(4)
Traci L.
Excellent food and drinks. My first tim there and after a great day of hiking at Natural Bridge, it was just what the dictor ordered. I had the seafood platter, fried to perfection and the spinach was out of this world delicious. My friend had the frog legs and mashed potatoes. The frog legs were huge....... anyway we are having the leftovers today because the serving size was too much for one sitting. No complaints! P.S. to the bartender yesterday afternoon, excellent service and sorry we dropped the glass! Wink wink
(5)
Chad C.
This is a once great place that has slowly went down hill. It a sad shell of its former self. There honestly is nothing really good about this place anymore. Even their beer cheese that they were once famous for isn't up to par. I guess the yearly floods with the rich history is all this place has left.
(1)
Emme C.
Our order took a while to come, manager tried to rectify that by giving us complimentary cheese and crackers. Food tasted good but I am probably not coming back, due to distance from Lexington, and price of food. Also, this is not my type of food, most were fried or battered. We sat outside, overlooking the river.
(3)
Amy M.
I went here with a group of 4 and the food was disgusting. This place has really gone downhill.
(1)
Chris P.
Great service and manager. Had wings, ribs, hot brown and crawfish cakes. All really good! My date loved it too. Coming back!
(4)
Brian T.
I enjoy coming here for the atmosphere. This is one of the places that I like escaping to when I feel the need to get away from urban Lexington. The restaurant is located alongside the confluence of a creek and the Kentucky River. It is a fairly short and nice ride to get to this restaurant from Lexington. On the other hand, the food is pretty average in my opinion. The beer cheese is good and the fried catfish is just okay.
(3)
Jeff J.
The charm of Hall's on the River comes from the restaurant's location on the river, beer cheese and fried banana peppers. It is a central KY tradition. The prices and food, however, beyond the beer cheese and fried banana peppers have been high and meh respectively. Great place for a drink and appetizer though.
(3)
Jackie S.
Authentic southern cooking at its best! The braised short ribs, Hot Brown and Not Your Grandmas Salad is my favorite. Homemade Bread pudding with bourbon sauce was perfect! Service and atmosphere exceptional!
(5)
Lee P.
This once-great establishment is anything but. First off, no longer do they bring the famous Hall's beer cheese when you arrive. Even overlooking that, the food was well below average. The prices on several of their meals have become unreasonable.
(2)
Teri S.
Desert to die for! Bread pudding with Bourbon sauce!
Went with a group at a conference. This is an old place with many memories for people who live around the area. The food is all greasy and deep fried this and deep fried that. The beer cheese was wonderful! The food is alright, but since I am not a big fan of deep friend stuff, it was a bit much. The fried green tomatoes were wonderful! The crust for it was so light and flaky. The location is wonderful, right by the river. The drive over is picturesque. I would go once for the experience. Also, if you enjoy deep fried food then this is your place.
(3)
Dennis T.
Located about 25 minutes outside of town, Hall's on the River is better known locally for the outdoor river view than the food, and is considered a tourist trap by some. Most of the food is fried, and of lower quality than Red Lobster, and a bit pricey for the quality. Even the beer cheese, which is hyped as the best thing on the menu, is forgettable. The fried frog legs are not bad, though, and aren't found on many local menus outside of some Chinese buffets. For better seafood, try one of the many sushi restaurants in town. Lexington has decent sushi, due to the Toyota plant in neighboring Georgetown, or try Lexington Seafood near campus, which has carry-out cooked-to-order fish that is reasonably priced.
(2)
Zach J.
Didn't have a great experience here. I ordered the fish and chips and it was pretty good. However, the tartar sauce wasn't great and neither was the service. The couple that we were dining with had a terrible time getting some BBQ sauce after the food was brought to us. Her chicken was dry and the waitress seemed to forget about us as soon as the food came out. I was done eating before she got her BBQ sauce.
(3)
Arvin B.
Judging by all the other reviews on here, I guess I have to say that it was at least decent at best. When I had gone there, it was with a group of friends and it was only because they had a special: all you can eat ribs for $16. I had no problem eating down 9 ribs and two fried catfish with fries. Sure it was a bit pricey, but why wouldn't it be if the place rarely gets any customers. I bet this place is doing it for the purpose of breaking even.
(3)
Charles S.
The main reason to come to Hall's is for the atmosphere. It overlooks the river and is off the beaten path. It's a nice place to go on a lazy day for a meal. From the setting to the food it just feels very Kentucky to me. For the most part the food is pretty ordinary country dishes that focus on that savory taste. The only dish I found exceptional was the friend green tomatoes. I had the beer cheese burger with fried banana pepper. It felt like the flavor left the banana pepper when fried or the banana pepper and beer cheese canceled each other out too much as it mostly tasted like I was just having a burger. The catfish was good but not better than what you would cook in your own home.
(3)
Jason B.
Great place to grab a bite after you hike the trails next to it. I got the chicken burger with turkey on it. It was really good and I loved it so much. My buddy got the catfish and wasn't too pleased because for $15 they only give you 3 pieces... Kinda sad that it's such a small about for that price. But I guess you learn what to not get there. The view on the deck is what got me sold on this place. I like how much this place reminds me of old Kentucky living. Happy someone told me about this place.
(4)
Rob B.
Hall's has been a favorite of Central Kentucky diners for more than four decades. Located approximately 25 minutes from Lexington in nearby Winchester, Hall's is legendary for its "beer cheese" dip---one of the most popular brands in Kentucky. I had not been to Hall's for several years but decided to check it out to see if it is still worth the trip. I am happy to report my experience did not disappoint. The drive from Lexington is scenic and due to the somewhat remote location, Hall's is definitely more of a destination restaurant than an impulse visit. On this particular evening, the weather was ideal for outside dining so I opted for a table on Hall's large and spacious deck which overlooks the Kentucky river. Hall's is large and can easily accommodate crowds and large parties of 8-10. Watching people canoeing along the river and the perfect weather definitely added to the experience. In addition, my server, Ashley, was warm, friendly, and attentive. The manager (owner?) also stopped by twice during my visit to make sure everything was OK. I ordered the Fried Banana Peppers--a Central Kentucky favorite for an appetizer. They were served hot with cocktail sauce and were large and tasty. If you like Banana Peppers, you will definitely like Hall's version. I also ordered the Cornbread Salad and instead of the recommended dressings I chose the Bourbon Orange Vinaigrette. This salad consists of mixed greens with homemade cornbread, scallions, and bacon. Two thumbs up! For my entree I went with the Fried Frog Legs with "Smashed" Potatoes and Onion Rings. I was curious about the onion rings and they were lightly breaded and delicious. The potatoes were also quite good with bits of potato skins throughout. The frog legs, four of them, were plump and also lightly breaded and very filling. Hall's is clearly Southern comfort food and I enjoyed everything I sampled and had lots leftover. The combination of good food, scenic view, and excellent service makes Hall's worth the trip and I plan to go back soon and try other items on the menu. I was somewhat surprised that Hall's apparently does not offer desserts. I did not see any listed on the menu. Nor do they serve any type of bread with the meal. A bit surprising for Southern comfort fare. I would recommend that Hall's consider serving their cornbead with each meal. It was a nice touch to the Cornbread Salad and would make for an excellent stand alone offering. If you have never been to Hall's, the beer cheese platter is a must to indoctrinate you to the true Hall's experience!
(4)
Dale S.
I read a few reviews here before going out there, but I didn't want to have a franchise chain dining experience, so we took off for this place. If you go out 418 from the interstate, its a real nice drive (for those of us not from around here). Narrow and curvy road, so I'd not drag the 5th wheel. Food was just OK. Pulled pork was a bit dry, sauce from a jar, fries from the freezer, but the greens were done right! The prices were high for the food quality, but I knew that coming in. Don't be fooled by the "pub", the tap lineup was mainly the bigs (B, M, C). They had two local taps, Cougar Bait (a clearly flawed beer) and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, an 8.2 abv amber that they called an English Strong, with a hint of the barrel (an ok beer, I guess) The can of coconut porter from a Lexington brewery was really good though. Service was friendly, but not super professional.
(3)
Tom B.
They are back under new management! After my last visit over a year ago, I would agree things had gone downhill. So, with guests in town, I decided to try it again. I met the new manager and talked with him about the improvements. If you used to go to Halls but had given up on it, try again. The beer cheese was some of the best around. The catfish was excellent and the prime rib was tasty.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
John H.
Visited Hall's several times, always friendly staff and excellent entrees. The atmosphere is excellent, short drive to really feel like you've gotten away from town.
(5)Mallory S.
The atmosphere is cool and the point of really going, in my opinion, is for the drive out by the Kentucky River on a nice day and sitting on the deck, as the view is awesome. I had the fried mushrooms which tasted great but the price was too much for the portion size. My dad had a bowl of pasta that was $13 or $14 but the portion size was about $8 or $9 worth maybe and the pasta was okay. We had a laugh about the overpriced food, but the view is beautiful. I recommend going on a very nice day when you can sit on the deck and look out at the creek. There aren't too many vegetarian options, so I'd say this place is best for those who just love seafood. It's still a cool place to go, they just need to step up the food game or price it accordingly.
(3)Buddy R.
We had been to Halls on previous trips to the Lexington Area (My daughter went to college there) so when we camped at the local state park on our return from Vacation we wanted to go back. I think it's gone downhill in the last few years - the location is still great but the sea food has gone "frozen, pre-breaded". I had the sea food feast - the shrimp were all bread, the scallops tasteless and the clams hard (probably because they were cooked in the same fryer with everything else and being smaller need to be cooked a shorter time). The catfish was the only fair item in the "feast" and it was just OK. My wife had a pork chop however that was fabulous - it was smoked with a deep smoke flavor and was HUGE. She was very happy which is why I gave it 3 stars. There were only a few tables in use when we were there - and the place used to be packed every night a few years ago. Sad, I wonder what happened?
(3)Jonathan F.
This was my first time to Hall's. We didn't really have any expectations going in. The fried banana peppers were great! I tried the frog legs, which were also good. Prices weren't awful. Service was good. Sitting on the deck makes for a great atmosphere. My co-workers had the catfish and shrimp and grits. They had no complaints either. Nice place to go when you want something different.
(4)Jim N.
Drove here for dinner tonight & wow; what a pleasant surprise. Beautiful rustic building on the river; large facility; varied menu & friendly service. Terrific fish dinner;have to return & try the steak! Best surprise this month!
(4)Traci L.
Excellent food and drinks. My first tim there and after a great day of hiking at Natural Bridge, it was just what the dictor ordered. I had the seafood platter, fried to perfection and the spinach was out of this world delicious. My friend had the frog legs and mashed potatoes. The frog legs were huge....... anyway we are having the leftovers today because the serving size was too much for one sitting. No complaints! P.S. to the bartender yesterday afternoon, excellent service and sorry we dropped the glass! Wink wink
(5)Chad C.
This is a once great place that has slowly went down hill. It a sad shell of its former self. There honestly is nothing really good about this place anymore. Even their beer cheese that they were once famous for isn't up to par. I guess the yearly floods with the rich history is all this place has left.
(1)Emme C.
Our order took a while to come, manager tried to rectify that by giving us complimentary cheese and crackers. Food tasted good but I am probably not coming back, due to distance from Lexington, and price of food. Also, this is not my type of food, most were fried or battered. We sat outside, overlooking the river.
(3)Amy M.
I went here with a group of 4 and the food was disgusting. This place has really gone downhill.
(1)Chris P.
Great service and manager. Had wings, ribs, hot brown and crawfish cakes. All really good! My date loved it too. Coming back!
(4)Brian T.
I enjoy coming here for the atmosphere. This is one of the places that I like escaping to when I feel the need to get away from urban Lexington. The restaurant is located alongside the confluence of a creek and the Kentucky River. It is a fairly short and nice ride to get to this restaurant from Lexington. On the other hand, the food is pretty average in my opinion. The beer cheese is good and the fried catfish is just okay.
(3)Jeff J.
The charm of Hall's on the River comes from the restaurant's location on the river, beer cheese and fried banana peppers. It is a central KY tradition. The prices and food, however, beyond the beer cheese and fried banana peppers have been high and meh respectively. Great place for a drink and appetizer though.
(3)Jackie S.
Authentic southern cooking at its best! The braised short ribs, Hot Brown and Not Your Grandmas Salad is my favorite. Homemade Bread pudding with bourbon sauce was perfect! Service and atmosphere exceptional!
(5)Lee P.
This once-great establishment is anything but. First off, no longer do they bring the famous Hall's beer cheese when you arrive. Even overlooking that, the food was well below average. The prices on several of their meals have become unreasonable.
(2)Teri S.
Desert to die for! Bread pudding with Bourbon sauce!
(3)Angela L.
I want to like this place, I really do, but after many tries, they have failed to deliver. Unfortunately there are very few choices for great food in Winchester. Hall's On the River has the history and décor to be something fabulous. It has a wonderful patio area that overlooks a creek, which feeds into the Kentucky River across the street. There is an overall down-home feel with lots of wood and warm lighting and it also has a full bar and several fireplaces. The menu looks promising with great southern fare and lots of seafood choices. They are known for the beer cheese and it seems to be as good as any other beer cheese I have tasted in the area. The fried green tomatoes and fried banana peppers are definitely southern style but a little too greasy for my taste. The Hot Brown is good and comes in several sizes. The fried seafood is okay, slightly better than fast food. However, the meat in this place is some of the worst quality I have seen in any restaurant. On our fourth visit our guest ordered the 16 oz. ribeye and had to send it back twice. She finally gave up because they never got it right. On this night it was thin, overcooked and no flavor. The waitress told us they were trying out a new cook. On our latest trip we tried to order the "made on premise" prime rib. When we asked for it medium rare the waitress said that they could not serve it that way. One person in our party went ahead and ordered it medium. What she got was a flat, over heated piece of meat that was so full of gristle and fat it was hard to find any meat. I ordered the 16 oz. ribeye and asked for it cooked medium rare. The first time it came out medium well. The waitress apologized and she returned it to the kitchen for another try. This time it came out rare, but I could have handled that. It was the odd gray color that really had me wondering. If I didn't know any better, I would guess that the meat had been boiled. I could see the grill marks but they looked like something made with a George Forman Grill. The cut of the steak was thick, but the texture was strange and there was no flavor. And when I say no flavor, I really mean no flavor. I never realized that ribeye steak could have zero flavor--well unless it has been boiled. Is it possible that they keep the meat in a steam tray before grilling? Another person in our party had the pork ribs. He was confused by his entree also. Parts of the rib were tender and cooked to perfection while the next rib would be dry as bark. He also kept finding these huge long tendons throughout. Looking at them made me want to become a vegetarian. There were seven people in our party and not one had a decent meal. If Hall's On the River would get a new kitchen staff and improve the quality of the food, it could be one of the go-to places in the area. But for now you can get much better food (with a lot less atmosphere of course) at the dive bar just down the street.
(2)Jane E.
Went with a group at a conference. This is an old place with many memories for people who live around the area. The food is all greasy and deep fried this and deep fried that. The beer cheese was wonderful! The food is alright, but since I am not a big fan of deep friend stuff, it was a bit much. The fried green tomatoes were wonderful! The crust for it was so light and flaky. The location is wonderful, right by the river. The drive over is picturesque. I would go once for the experience. Also, if you enjoy deep fried food then this is your place.
(3)Dennis T.
Located about 25 minutes outside of town, Hall's on the River is better known locally for the outdoor river view than the food, and is considered a tourist trap by some. Most of the food is fried, and of lower quality than Red Lobster, and a bit pricey for the quality. Even the beer cheese, which is hyped as the best thing on the menu, is forgettable. The fried frog legs are not bad, though, and aren't found on many local menus outside of some Chinese buffets. For better seafood, try one of the many sushi restaurants in town. Lexington has decent sushi, due to the Toyota plant in neighboring Georgetown, or try Lexington Seafood near campus, which has carry-out cooked-to-order fish that is reasonably priced.
(2)Zach J.
Didn't have a great experience here. I ordered the fish and chips and it was pretty good. However, the tartar sauce wasn't great and neither was the service. The couple that we were dining with had a terrible time getting some BBQ sauce after the food was brought to us. Her chicken was dry and the waitress seemed to forget about us as soon as the food came out. I was done eating before she got her BBQ sauce.
(3)Arvin B.
Judging by all the other reviews on here, I guess I have to say that it was at least decent at best. When I had gone there, it was with a group of friends and it was only because they had a special: all you can eat ribs for $16. I had no problem eating down 9 ribs and two fried catfish with fries. Sure it was a bit pricey, but why wouldn't it be if the place rarely gets any customers. I bet this place is doing it for the purpose of breaking even.
(3)Charles S.
The main reason to come to Hall's is for the atmosphere. It overlooks the river and is off the beaten path. It's a nice place to go on a lazy day for a meal. From the setting to the food it just feels very Kentucky to me. For the most part the food is pretty ordinary country dishes that focus on that savory taste. The only dish I found exceptional was the friend green tomatoes. I had the beer cheese burger with fried banana pepper. It felt like the flavor left the banana pepper when fried or the banana pepper and beer cheese canceled each other out too much as it mostly tasted like I was just having a burger. The catfish was good but not better than what you would cook in your own home.
(3)Jason B.
Great place to grab a bite after you hike the trails next to it. I got the chicken burger with turkey on it. It was really good and I loved it so much. My buddy got the catfish and wasn't too pleased because for $15 they only give you 3 pieces... Kinda sad that it's such a small about for that price. But I guess you learn what to not get there. The view on the deck is what got me sold on this place. I like how much this place reminds me of old Kentucky living. Happy someone told me about this place.
(4)Rob B.
Hall's has been a favorite of Central Kentucky diners for more than four decades. Located approximately 25 minutes from Lexington in nearby Winchester, Hall's is legendary for its "beer cheese" dip---one of the most popular brands in Kentucky. I had not been to Hall's for several years but decided to check it out to see if it is still worth the trip. I am happy to report my experience did not disappoint. The drive from Lexington is scenic and due to the somewhat remote location, Hall's is definitely more of a destination restaurant than an impulse visit. On this particular evening, the weather was ideal for outside dining so I opted for a table on Hall's large and spacious deck which overlooks the Kentucky river. Hall's is large and can easily accommodate crowds and large parties of 8-10. Watching people canoeing along the river and the perfect weather definitely added to the experience. In addition, my server, Ashley, was warm, friendly, and attentive. The manager (owner?) also stopped by twice during my visit to make sure everything was OK. I ordered the Fried Banana Peppers--a Central Kentucky favorite for an appetizer. They were served hot with cocktail sauce and were large and tasty. If you like Banana Peppers, you will definitely like Hall's version. I also ordered the Cornbread Salad and instead of the recommended dressings I chose the Bourbon Orange Vinaigrette. This salad consists of mixed greens with homemade cornbread, scallions, and bacon. Two thumbs up! For my entree I went with the Fried Frog Legs with "Smashed" Potatoes and Onion Rings. I was curious about the onion rings and they were lightly breaded and delicious. The potatoes were also quite good with bits of potato skins throughout. The frog legs, four of them, were plump and also lightly breaded and very filling. Hall's is clearly Southern comfort food and I enjoyed everything I sampled and had lots leftover. The combination of good food, scenic view, and excellent service makes Hall's worth the trip and I plan to go back soon and try other items on the menu. I was somewhat surprised that Hall's apparently does not offer desserts. I did not see any listed on the menu. Nor do they serve any type of bread with the meal. A bit surprising for Southern comfort fare. I would recommend that Hall's consider serving their cornbead with each meal. It was a nice touch to the Cornbread Salad and would make for an excellent stand alone offering. If you have never been to Hall's, the beer cheese platter is a must to indoctrinate you to the true Hall's experience!
(4)Dale S.
I read a few reviews here before going out there, but I didn't want to have a franchise chain dining experience, so we took off for this place. If you go out 418 from the interstate, its a real nice drive (for those of us not from around here). Narrow and curvy road, so I'd not drag the 5th wheel. Food was just OK. Pulled pork was a bit dry, sauce from a jar, fries from the freezer, but the greens were done right! The prices were high for the food quality, but I knew that coming in. Don't be fooled by the "pub", the tap lineup was mainly the bigs (B, M, C). They had two local taps, Cougar Bait (a clearly flawed beer) and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, an 8.2 abv amber that they called an English Strong, with a hint of the barrel (an ok beer, I guess) The can of coconut porter from a Lexington brewery was really good though. Service was friendly, but not super professional.
(3)Tom B.
They are back under new management! After my last visit over a year ago, I would agree things had gone downhill. So, with guests in town, I decided to try it again. I met the new manager and talked with him about the improvements. If you used to go to Halls but had given up on it, try again. The beer cheese was some of the best around. The catfish was excellent and the prime rib was tasty.
(4)