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    Home » Travel » Food Travel » Kentucky » Lexington Eats

    Dudley's On Short (Lexington, KY)

    Published: May 16, 2023 · Modified: Dec 16, 2024 · 2 Comments

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    For a special occasion or just an elegant evening out, Dudley's on Short is a beautiful dining experience in downtown Lexington.

    Exterior of Dudley's on Short restaurant.

    Dudley's on Short is a fine dining restaurant featuring American cuisine in Lexington, Kentucky.

    This is one of Lexington’s most fantastic high-end dining options. It’s perfect for a special occasion, such as an anniversary, or just a really nice night out in Lexington. My husband and I tried it out one winter evening and were completely impressed!

    Here's what to know if you're thinking about going.

    Dining area with antler chandelier and tables covered with white cloths at Dudley's on Short.
    Dining Room at Dudley's on Short

    Looking for casual eats in Lexington? We recommend The Local Taco, The Cellar Bar & Grille, Kentucky Native Cafe, Zim's, and Pietana. And Nate's Coffee is one of our favorite stops for a good latte!

    Reservations + Parking at Dudley's on Short

    The restaurant is only open for evening dining through the week, although there are brunch hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

    Check the restaurant website for exact hours.

    Reservations are recommended! Be sure to call ahead, or if you have a group of six or fewer, you can use the online service OpenTable, linked on their website.

    Since the restaurant is downtown, be aware that parking may be paid depending on where you find a spot. Street parking is free later on in the evenings, but check the meter for exact times. The restaurant also offers a valet service.

    First Impressions

    The restaurant's interior is gorgeous! The structure that houses this two-story restaurant was originally built in 1889. Dudley's moved in here in 2010 after an extensive renovation.

    Dining area with dark red walls and tables full of people at Dudley's on Short.
    Dining Room at Dudley's on Short

    When we first arrived, we were offered a coat check.

    Our server was wonderful, attentive and knowledgeable. I asked for a dry white wine recommendation, and our server suggested a white Boudreaux to go with my meal. It was perfect!

    I was especially impressed by the seafood selection. As someone who regularly orders high-end seafood to cook at home, I was also impressed by the quality of the seafood we were served.

    When we were first seated, they served us warm rolls and butter.

    Two rolls with butter on a plate.
    Warm Rolls + Butter

    Selecting Meals at Dudley's on Short

    Nightly specials are listed on the board outside the restaurant. (I ended up picking the pan-seared pompano!)

    Board listing nightly specials at Dudley's on Short.

    The regular menu makes for a mouth-watering read too. It offers a variety of seafood, beef, and poultry entrées, as well as some salads.

    Dinner menu at Dudley's on Short.
    Menu at Dudley's on Short

    We got some diced ahi tuna as a complimentary amuse-bouche. The flavor and texture were outstanding!

    We also ordered the smoked Kentucky trout "Dudley" eggs (deviled eggs) as an appetizer. These were fantastic! I’m definitely going to try making something similar at home with smoked trout.

    Kentucky smoked trout deviled eggs appetizer.
    Smoked Kentucky Trout "Dudley" Eggs Appetizer

    For our main course, as mentioned above, I went for the pan-seared pompano. I do enjoy a pan-seared fish! This one was delicate and buttery, and I loved the micro greens on top. The potatoes, zucchini and sauce were also scrumptious.

    Pan-seared pompano fish.
    Pan-Seared Pompano

    Our other selection was seared scallops with risotto. The scallops were buttery, the risotto was perfect, and I loved the crunch from the pine nuts.

    Seared scallops with risotto.
    Seared Scallops with Risotto

    Everything on the dessert menu sounded spectacular.

    Dessert menu at Dudley's on Short.
    Dessert Menu

    We had a hard time seeing past the bourbon ball cake, which practically begged to be ordered. It was a rich layer cake topped with a bourbon ball — absolutely, decadently good.

    Bourbon ball cake.
    Bourbon Ball Cake

    This was a beautiful, memorable evening out, and I hope you get to try Dudley's on Short for yourself sometime! If you've already been, let us know in the comments what your favorites were!

    More Lexington Eats

    • Restaurant entrance and sign for Mr Brews Taphouse.
      Mr Brews Taphouse (Lexington, KY)
    • Entrance to Corto Lima, a grey painted building with black awning.
      Corto Lima (Lexington, KY)
    • Indoor dining area with Mirror Twin Brewing Co. stenciled on the wall in decorative script.
      Mirror Twin Brewing (Lexington, KY)
    • White-tiled ordering counter with Nate's Coffee spelled out in black letters.
      Nate's Coffee (Lexington, KY)

    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

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    Recipe Rating




    Comments

    1. Margaret Concannon says

      June 27, 2023 at 2:51 pm

      Thanks for this! I’ve tried -and loved-several of your recipes, and stopped in today to find this lovely article about my very favorite restaurant ever! I loved it when it was in its original location, and love this one as well. I moved from Lex many years ago, but Dudley’s is always on my must-dine list when I make it back.

      Reply
      • Alisha Trenalone says

        June 28, 2023 at 9:10 am

        Aw, that's so nice to hear! Thanks for letting us know how much you enjoyed it. Old favorites are the best 🥰

        -Alisha at Champagne Tastes

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

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