Lexington, KY - I had heard mixed reviews about one of downtown's newer nightlife establishments, and not a single of these appraisals had anything to do with the food, so a guest and I decided we'd go down - or up, in this case - and give SkyBar-Lexington a proper evaluation. As the namesake should indicate, the restaurant and lounge is alit in Lexington's skyline, roosted on the top floor of the building at the corner of Cheapside and Main Street.
We picked a quiet, mid-week evening so we could avoid any weekend shenanigans (even though the venue is relatively new, it is already a cosmopolitan hang on Friday and Saturday nights) and got a comfortable table with a nice eastward vantage point. Make no mistake: SkyBar is a swanky joint. Aside from its lofty station, the restaurant employs a rotating cast of venerable piano players, such as Andy Mason, for entertainment on any given night and proffers deep, posh couches and seats instead of firm chairs for lazing or munching.
The cocktail and wine menu is much more storied (and expensive) than the actual food offerings. Most of the wine selections, which include a healthy assortment of merlots, cabernet sauvignons, pinot noirs and other varieties (including champagnes), are available by bottle only, but there are a few by-the-glass options which start at $9 (and go up to $46, for a glass of Dom Perignon). Along with the wine, you can also choose from an ample liquor selection -
even with a premium bottle service - and over a dozen specialty martinis, such as The Lexing-Tini, which is made with Maker's Mark. I stuck with a neat Blanton's before eating.
Interestingly, compared with the drink prices, the considerable selection of sushi (over two dozen choices) is affordably priced, with most rolls ranging from $5.99 to $7.99. They have cooked and raw sushi options, as well as a handful of specialty rolls, such as the Kentucky roll, which includes beer cheese wrapped up in the mix.
Along with the sushi options, also available is a handful of small plate options - or, to use a more refined vernacular,
a tapas menu, which includes items such as turkey or lobster clubs, prawns, prime rib mini sanwiches, crab cakes, a lamb rack, beef stew, and a cheese plate. Most of these items are priced between $8 and $14. These choices aren't full dinner meals, but they do come with sweet potato chips, and paired with a sushi roll can be a satisfying enterprise.
For sushi, my guest and I ordered a tuna avocado roll and the Kentucky roll (how could we resist?). The Kentucky roll was a special ride for the taste buds, but I'll probably stick with traditional ingredients on my next visit. The tuna and avocado was very good. From the tapas offerings, we had the lobster club and prime rib minis. Vegetarian options are fairly limited, though with all of the sushi, there is an ample selection for " pescatarians" to choose from. We gobbled down both sandwiches, but the prime rib minis were definitely the table favorite.
Our bill prior to tipping came to just under $92, but bear in mind that nearly $40 of that total was the result of adult beverages (two cocktails, two glasses of wine), which are rather pricey. We also ordered a crËme brulee trio and coffee after dinner.
SkyBar-Lexington offers a lunch menu as well, and the destination should be given due consideration when planning a mid-day meal or business outing. For larger parties, a trio of private rooms is available.