parlay
It has been my common experience that when a business attempts to operate simultaneously as a cocktail bar, a restaurant and a performance venue, the quality of food often falls to the wayside, not getting nearly enough attention as an eager foodie might hope. Fortunately, such is not the case with Parlay Social, one of the newest hot spots on Short Street –– a burgeoning culinary district that is already anchored by Dudley’s on Short, Table 310 and Cheapside Bar & Grill, and will soon include the additions of The Village Idiot and Shakepeare & Co.
An epicurean lounge with a strong 1920s, art deco flair, Parlay Social is perfectly suitable for a business lunch, a post-work social gathering, a night out on the town and a dinner date, whether you’re going casual or swank. Taking cues from speakeasies of the past, the cocktail menu features prohibition-era drinks and a modest but quality wine menu. I was drawn to order The Parlay, a refreshing and delicious blend of Belvedere pink grapefruit vodka, sparkling rosé, and Saint Germain elderflower liqueur ($10). My guest ordered the more traditional Sazerac (made with Bulleit Rye, Absinthe and bitters, $9); both were perfectly executed.
Refreshingly, the food menu is not laden with repeats of the same continental fare found on the majority of Lexington casual/upscale restaurants, but focuses instead on smaller, share-friendly dishes: thin crust pizzas, meat and cheese platters, fresh oysters. The menu remains the same for lunch and dinner, and also includes deli classic sandwiches as well as six different gourmet grilled cheese options, with ingredients ranging from cream cheese to strawberry jam. My guest and I both find it almost impossible to resist fresh oysters, so we started with an order of six on the half shell (served with a side of horseradish, cocktail sauce and crackers, $8.95); we quickly decided to order another half dozen.
We followed the oysters with a sampling of various meats and cheeses: prosciutto di parma, Stilton (an English bleu cheese) and Piave (a semi-hard Italian cow’s milk cheese), garnished with candied pecans, stone ground mustard, crackers, baguettes and various fruit relishes. The Piave was probably the weakest link –– not much flavor –– but the overall presentation was very generous and tasty. We rounded off the meal with a pizza –– the menu features six different choices of 9-inch pies, plus an option to create your own. We opted for the Lucky Lindbergh, a play off the Hawaiian, featuring ham, pineapple, cilantro, banana peppers and a blend of Romano, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. With a thin and crispy crust and the complementary combination of toppings, no slice went untouched.
The ambience inside the historic building, with exposed brick walls, cozy booths and high top tables, glass chandeliers and velvet draperies, is sumptuous but comfortable –– I would have felt as comfortable in heels as I did in jeans. Our server was friendly and knowledgable and the food was delivered in appropriately timed courses.
Our meal, which included two rounds of adult beverages, came to $75.85 before tax and tip –– a great deal for having left feeling full (and as if we had splurged on a much more expensive meal). I definitely intend to go back and sample some of those gourmet grilled cheeses.
Parlay Social
257 W. Short St.
(859) 244-1932