The Best Local Restaurants Near W&L
Welcome to W&L | Local Restaurants Near W&L
Lexington’s restaurant scene has a few that stand out for their price and walkability.
(Downtown Lexington, seen from above Lee Chapel, National Historic Landmark. | SOURCE: Sam Dean / Richmond Magazine)
Lexington has a wide variety of restaurant offerings, especially for a town of under 8,000 people. Many of its offerings, especially those located near I-64, are fast-food staples, like Burger King and Chick-fil-A, or fast-casual favorites, like Applebee's or Waffle House. While The Spectator does recommend at least one trip to Cook Out for those not of American Southern origin, many of the chain options are a car ride away from campus (besides Domino’s).
Yet, to break the monotony of your sixth D-Hall dinner in one week, while not requiring a car ride, the varied restaurants of downtown Lexington present a tempting offering. Amongst all the options, a few reasonably-priced, locally-owned restaurants, all within a 10-minute walk of the freshman dorms, stand out.
For American fare, TAPS, The Palms,and Macados offer burgers in the $12 to $16 range. Macados is an excellent place for larger groups if you make a reservation in advance, but consider going somewhere else on Friday night, as it can be pretty busy then. The Palms is a Lexington staple, with unforgettable decor. TAPS, part of The Georges Hotel, is the most upscale of the three and also has the most limited seating.
(Color-coded map of the restaurants and freshman residence halls. | SOURCE: Google Maps / The Spectator)
For a mix of traditional American lunches, but with the addition of breakfast, check out Pure Eats. Another breakfast and lunch favorite is Blue Sky Bakery, which is just a block away from Gaines Hall.
Napa Thai is a favorite amongst students, with their fried rice and various curries being especially popular. Most meals include a choice of meats or vegetables, starting at around $14 for vegetables, pork, or chicken, and topping out at under $30.
Ai Cha is your go-to spot for bubble tea, and the next-door Golden Garden offers generous portions of Chinese dishes for a reasonable price.
Salerno’s is the closest local pizza joint for freshmen. Salerno’s offers $5 cheese pizza every Wednesday night (toppings can be added for $1 each), and Thursday nights are wing night!
As for coffee shops, there are many offerings. Pronto has the widest menu, serving Lavazza coffee, sandwiches, pastries, and gelato. Whatever it is, it will be better than the Peet’s Coffee in Coop.
When it comes to ice cream, Sweet Things will be your only option open in the evening, but beware that they close at 8 p.m. most nights, and 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
There are many other great restaurants in Lexington’s downtown, and even more a short drive away (for instance, Mexican favorites Don Tequila, or Donny T’s, and Taqueria Jalisco are a short drive from campus on East Nelson Street). Wherever you end up, just get out and explore!
