Flavors Near Home: Introduction

I have been living in Lexington, Kentucky for about a year now, after moving here with my partner. This is his hometown, and quite frankly, living here has spoiled him. Lexington has an amazing range of cultures to sample from and this town definitely does not lack in delicious food! I grew up in a small town with 4 "sit-down" (non fast food/chain) restaurants. Two of them are Mexican food, one is a Chinese buffet, and the other is mediocre café-style chicken strips, doctored up instant mashed potatoes, and strait-from-the-can green beans.

Before moving to Lexington, I had never had Greek food, Thai food, Mediterranean food, Korean food, African food, Caribbean food, Cuban food, or even brunch! So if you are like me, and you didn't grow up in one of the most diverse food cities in America, follow along as I sample dishes from far and wide, flavors near home!

That being said, if you want to know the best restaurants in the Lexington metro-area, don't ask me. This might not be the platform to make such an announcement, but, it's true. I can only tell you what I like, what qualifies as "pretentious" to me, what dishes are worth the money, and how the staff at the restaurant performed the day I visited. You might completely disagree with what I have to say, you might wholeheartedly agree. Either way, let me know. What it comes down to is my personal taste. My opinions are based on my taste and my circumstances.

In these reviews you will find a few things that aren't taken into consideration in other places. Namely, information about facets of a restaurant that affect me personally.

I am disabled, and so making accessibility a big part of my reviews is very important to me. People with disabilities like to eat unique, delicious food too, ya know?

I will talk about parking, ease of mobility, seating arrangements, and other facets of accessibility. I have a lung disease, heart problems, and asthma, so if I have to hike half a mile from a parking structure to plop down in a cramped restaurant, I won't be pleased. I also have anxiety and stimulus processing issues, so I keep in mind noise levels, atmosphere, and even strong smells. On top of all that, I have a wheat intolerance, so am always looking for unique offering beyond charred meats and tasteless, steamed veggies. I always keep in mind the limitations of my friends: is there room for a wheelchair, walker, or mobility device? Are service animals allowed? Is there anyone on staff that knows ASL or can help a blind customer? All of these questions are important to me, and will be a main focus on this review blog.

I am also on a fixed and limited income, so what I spend my money on is important to me. If I have to save up enough money to go to Lexington's new premier restaurant, it better live up to the hype. I am also always on the lookout for filling food that's easy on the wallet. How much food can I get for my money? Will I have leftovers for lunch the next day? Will those leftovers keep and reheat well? Will this meal be worth the money I spent? I will include a traditional rating of cost.

$ = entrée <$10

$$ = entrée $10-$15

$$$ = entrée $15-$25

$$$$ = entrée > $25