Episode 55
Today I’m shining a spotlight on Ramsey’s Diners in Lexington Kentucky. I’m Tom Hailey and this is Bluegrass Region Voices and Views.
If you’re new to Lexington and you want to see where a bunch of our locals go to eat, Ramsey’s is your place.
Rob Ramsey opened the first one in 1989 at the corner of Woodland and High Street. He had more enthusiasm than financial resources, so the furniture was used wooden tables and chairs that didn’t match. That helped create a relaxed, down-home, casual atmosphere that continues today.
In 2014 the original Ramsey’s moved to a new building on West Zandale off Nicholasville Road. I’ll come back to the locations story in a minute. Let’s get into the food.
I think of it as downhome, Southern, comfort food. One of my favorite experiences there is ordering the vegetable plate. It’s four vegetables with bread. Recently I had this with pinto beans, greens, creamed corn, fried green tomatoes, chopped onions, vinegar, Tobasco, corn bread sticks, and sweet tea. It was good y’all.
They are also known for their meat and three for dinner. That’s one meat such as fried chicken, meat loaf, catfish, porkchops, or other southern staples and your choice of three vegetables. They say one meat, but that serving is enough for two people. And of course, bread. My favorite is the corn bread sticks.
Ramsey’s leads the mission to use locally sourced foods. Rob Ramsey helped the Kentucky Department of Agriculture create the Buy Local and Kentucky Proud Programs in 2002.
Another item they are locally famous for is breakfast served during lunch and dinner. With your choice of up to five eggs! It’s they are open, it’s available.
Lunch is served from 11 to 5, and dinner 5 to 10 Monday through Friday. They open at 10:00 am on Saturdays and Sundays.
And then there are the pies! When they first began with a small kitchen, they ran out of space in their ovens to bake their popular pies, so they started another business named Missy’s Pies in a nearby location. They have about fifteen types. However, you might need to order a piece to go. You’ll see what I mean when you eat there. Here’s a hint: go hungry.
Today they have four Ramsey’s Diner locations.
One recently closed on Tates Creek Road and moved to a new building in the Masterson Station area off of Leestown Road.
Their four locations here in January 2025 are Zandale, Andover, Harrodsburg Road, and Masterson Station.
Back to the food. Their children’s menu is fun to read. It has three sections. The: I Don’t Know, I Don’t Care, and I’m Not Hungry.
Their Kentucky Hot Brown is excellent, and if you’re looking for some bourbon with that, they’ve got you covered at their bar.
They have a private meeting room at Zandale that seats up to twenty-eight people.
If you know me, you know I’m concerned about parking. I’m pleased to report that parking is free, easy, and plentiful at each location.
So, if you’re new around here, I recommend you get yourself over to a Ramsey’s Diner soon and begin to fit it.
If you are from around here, well…you know what to do. A link to their website and menu is in the show notes.
Thanks for listening. Now let’s get Out Around the Bluegrass!
Ramsey’s Diner – Website and Menu
