Absolutely the best restaurant in LEX area. We just wish they were closer to LEX. Creative and simple menus. All dishes are executed perfectly. Service is pleasant, attentive, friendly and yet not pretentious or overbearing. Mike and William surely are very knowledgeable about the wine! Everything we tried - Salads (root vegetables, Caesar, and warm spinach salads), appetizers (scallops, chicken livers), and entrees (rabbits, duck breast, beef tenderloin, and red snapper) - were all delicious and beautifully presented. Desserts (chocolate molten cake, ice creams, and a caramel apple and cake dessert whose name we forgot) were perfect, too: not too sweet and creative. Always a good time at the Heirloom!
(5)
Anna S.
My husband and I ate at Heirloom for the first time earlier this month. It came highly recommended for serving southern comfort food with a big city twist. The recommendation was well deserved, because we both loved the food, service, and atmosphere. And, the prices were very reasonable for the quality that we received - we were pleasantly surprised, considering the food was terrific and we both left so stuffed we could barely walk (thanks to the southern comfort aspect!). The restaurant is tiny (so reservations are almost requisite), and it is snugly situated in picturesque historic Midway (quaint and home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the Bluegrass State). The interior is very nice and reflects a more upscale dining experience (but seemed kind of lackluster to me, since the hearty but gourmet food itself and the natural beauty of Midway outshines any big city trappings). Our server was a very sweet girl who gave just enough personalized attention without overdoing it. She was familiar with the food preparation and answered all of our questions accordingly (i.e., I'm not a big fan of servers who don't know anything about the menu, or who assert unhelpful comments like "I don't like fish so I don't know"). We both had salads: I had the warm spinach salad and my husband had the roasted beet salad. We loved my warm spinach salad, which was pungent with vinegar and creamy goat cheese - and it was HUGE. We could have easily split the salad. We also shared the crab cake with "sweet corn veloute, avocado, corn-cotija salad, sriracha honey." This appetizer was heavenly - the velvety sauce under the tender, golden crab cake was addictive - I ate it with a spoon! And the crisp sweet corn was just a lovely touch of texture. My husband isn't a fan of crab cakes (madness, I know) and he loved the dish as well. For entrees, he ordered the filet mignon with a veal glaze, and I had beef short rib on grits topped with a jicama slaw. I don't see either dish still on the menu, which is a travesty! They were both sexily prepared and throw-your-hands-up-and-holler delicious! My husband's steak was perfectly cooked and the veal glaze topping it was just ridiculous. And I loved my dish: the meat was fall-off-the-bone tender, the grits were luscious (I love me some grits, and loved that they made an appearance on a 'fancy' menu) and the jicama slaw was a perfect and crunchy topping. I truly hope that these entrees will make a reappearance again, because we fully intend to return Heirloom! Our sweet server also had the chef special prepare me an Irish coffee upon my request (something they don't normally have on the menu), since we were both so stuffed - we couldn't finish our entrees or have dessert - and I didn't think I'd make it home without a jolt of caffeine. The Irish coffee was perfect, and the chef had hand-whipped some cream on the spot (they should seriously put this permanently on the menu, as my man did a good job improvising). The final check (glass of wine, Irish coffee, two salads, appetizer and two entrees) was about $120 - very reasonable, considering we have spent that much per person in Cincinnati alone. And, we both agreed that Heirloom easily rivals any of the big city restaurants we've dined at...and, I'll say it, for the price, quality and portion sizes, I think Heirloom trumps my favorite fine-dining Cincinnati restaurant, Boca (gasp!). We definitely found a new favorite and will return the next time we want to splurge a bit.
(5)
Hánnah M.
Elegant, cozy little restaurant in quaint Midway. Great service and delicious food. The beef tenderloin entree was really wonderful- purple potatoes and the most amazing broccoli gratin you can imagine.
(5)
Greg G.
First time eating here and it was fantastic! The crab cake & Cuban sandwiches were delish! The atmosphere is very nice and downtown midway is really a great place to visit if you haven't been. The drive on old Frankfort pike is beautiful and a must if you're going to Midway. I will be back!
(5)
Bryan R.
Absolutely the best dining experience I ever had. The staff was over the top in their patience with us and was very helpful with our choices. Everything was locally grown and it was outstanding. From appetizers to dessert, we were not disappointed. I highly recommend the Beef tenderloin.It was perfection on a plate.
(5)
Beth C.
My husband had the burger and said its the best he's had in a restaurant! I had the gyro and it was great... Fries were good and crunchy as they should be. Would definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Steve B.
They really need to update their winelist. I had taken the trouble to look up several of the wines online to pick the best ones. Then when we ordered them we found they brought different vintages, including a replacing a high-end 2009 Napa cab with a 2011. The 2009 was an excellent year, and the 2011 was a crappy one. They did this for several wines. These were $100 wines.
Why are you still reading reviews, just go here. Period. Do it. Now! We were looking fora good meal on a rainy night after the Bourbon Trail and boy did we find it. This place was perfection. The service was top notch and the food was amazing! I'm pretty sure I made inappropriate moaning noises while eating my beef tenderloin. The decor is cute and cozy. Stop reading and go now, really.
(5)
Jennifer M.
I have to update my review. The day after the incident that I describe below the manager of Heirloom left me a voice mail. She was apologetic for the experience I had, assured me that Heirloom strives to provide exemplary service, and offered a gift certificate to entice my return. She could not have handled herself and the situation better. While the gift certificate is a gracious offer that I will not decline, the apology and acknowledgement of the experience is even more valuable to me. Sadly, it is not often that this kind of prompt and courteous customer attention is offered by businesses. Additionally, the owner called today to express sentiments similar to those offered by his manager. In an instant, they restored all of the warm, fuzzy feelings that I have for this establishment and all of my positive experiences at Heirloom now overshadow this minor hiccup. Well done!
(5)
Christy A.
One of our best meals ever! Spectacular food and impeccable service! Highest recommendation, so thankful we went here for our anniversary!
(5)
Swatee G.
So service has been awful the past couple of times, we have spent an average of 2.5 hours for dinner! BUT, m not taking any stars off.. if you go taste their Butternut Squash Autumn Bisque, you will know why.. if you don't wipe your place clean and are left wanting more, I will be surprised.. no..shocked! Also for someone without an exotic wine palette, and a lover of sweet wines like me - they have the Carl Lowen Reisling.. my latest fav wine.. love it..! Oh the crab cakes.. did I mention those.. DO NOT miss them. get it? If you don't get it.. you are just wasting your time here!
(4)
Susan B.
Had lunch here traveling through to Canada. All meals in the group were very delicious. From salads to burgers to steak sandwiches. Wish there was one closer to home!
(5)
Brian J.
My wife wanted to try this restaurant for her birthday. It has a beautiful ambiance (if somewhat feminine), and an interesting menu. The dishes we tried (steak, duck and chocolate cake) were all very good and creative, but also too small for my taste. My duck breast entre basically consisted of three small medallions of meat -- certainly not the entire breast -- and left me feeling hungry. The warm chocolate cake was nice but not memorable, a very small portion, and certainly didn't live up to its $10 price tag. Overall the prices were in par with fine dining in Lexington, but the portion sizes were not. You're paying for ambiance and location here. My wife said she would be happy to go back for another special occasion. I'm not so sure.
(3)
David L.
Our innkeepers at Swans Nest suggested we tootle over to Midway to see the dining options and we booked a table here. We were not disappointed!!! The food was delicious cooked fresh and served by some very attractive staff...do all the women who work at this place have to have long flowing locks??? We started with sauteed chicken livers and a sausage broth dish....and as members of the British Sausage Appreciation society the dish got 10/10!!!!!! For mains we had the halibut tempura, and this batter was proper tempura batter, light crisp and subtle. My beef tenderloin was cooked rare...just as I had asked. Yup the blood flowed and bloody tasty it was too! The design of the restaurant was contemporary and they have created a great atmosphere....loud enough to have presence but quiet enough to chat. We were VERY impressed with our dinner.....book as it does get busy...but do visit...it's really worth the drive. The South African red wine, having just returned from there, was excellent and good value.
(5)
Gabriella T.
We were have been driving across the country for the past two days and were visiting a friend in Georgetown when we happened upon Heirloom. The menu was mouth watering to read with lots of different options. We ended up ordering the monkfish and agnolotti with the mange salad. All three were delicious and great recommendations from our waitress. We highly recommend Heirloom if you are looking for great ambiance and a meal to match.
(4)
Lee G.
Favorite little get away restaurant. The red snapper and pea agnolotti was out of this world. The warm spinach salad and the chocolate lava cake are also knock-outs. I have no idea how Heirloom only has 4 stars....some people may just not have great taste. But I assure you, if you like fine, delicious food, you'll love this place. Don't go here if you're a boring diner who orders a grilled chicken sandwich at every restaurant. Go here if you appreciate a wonderfully talented chef, excellent wines and cocktails, impeccable service, and a nice evening of dining.
(5)
Josh S.
We were in town doing a tour of the Bourbon Trail and found this gem. I know if we are ever back in the area I know we will be returning. I started off some bourbon, neat as they have a fairly good selection in their bar. We'd read about the spinach salad so we gave it a shot. Wow, it was good. Moving on to our entree I went with the Beef Tenderloin which was cooked perfectly. The sweet potato was interesting in a good way and the malbec sauce was perfect. The presentation was great and the dish looked as good as it tasted. Bottom line was this place was great. It was pretty affordable for what you get, but it's more than a trip to AppleBee's. Do yourself a favor and give this place a shot, you'll be glad you did.
(5)
Fritz E.
The place was packed...on a Wednesday evening! The aromas were great. Wine was flowing freely - 50% off in-stock bottles of wine! We were tended by the friendly Gretchen. Started with a French Champagne...yum Appetizer was Halibut Tempura (fried white fish...). Came with a Uzu sauce...we quickly devoured this plate! Dinner: wife had the perfectly cooked Tenderloin with a blue cheese rich sauce...she wouldn't share. The couple bites I snuck in proved this was some tasty beef. I doubled down in Halibut. To try to get the crispy outer layer, Chef overcooked the top portion if the fish. Very edible just made for a good chew. Great crust though! I could see this as a regular lunch or dinner place if I lived nearby.
(4)
Charlie H.
Great place! I have never had a bad meal here. As I told the chef the steak I had was as good and tasteful on the last bite as well as the first. Service has always been good and presentation well done. If you haven't been here you, it should be on your list!!
(4)
Todd W.
Pretension run amok. For me, the best part of serendipitous restaurant discovery in a small town is the opportunity to find that rare gem of culinary masterwork in a quaint and unpretentious setting. Unfortunately, you will find neither at Heirloom. My wife and I literally stumbled across this place after a day of sightseeing while on a family visit. Upon walking in, we knew we'd made a mistake. The stark walls of white and muted tones were as cold as the smile of the hostess. After asking if we had reservations (What?! You DO realize there's a train track running through the middle of this one-street-light town, right?) - of course we did not - she promptly shuffled us to the back of the restaurant. Not that this mattered. The uncomfortable booth seating rises so high that there's hardly a chance of feeling the vibe of the place. The ambiance in a nutshell: horrible lighting + minimal interior interest + the smell of kitchen disinfectant. Yea. Our meals, once ordered, took over twenty-five minutes to arrive. The good news for us was that this allowed the waiter plenty of time to promise us how excellent it was going to be when it finally arrived. He lied. The meal itself was adequate at best. Nothing to write home about, and certainly not worthy of the pretension being dished out in spades. My advice - stay well clear of this establishment until the obviously neophyte restauranteurs fold up and allow someone with real chops - and a congenial small town attitude - to open a spot worth visiting.
(1)
Sarah B.
Two words: chicken livers. Served with lemon ricotta ravioli and lemony parmesan arugula... so rich yet balanced with just the right amount of acid. I can't say enough about this dish. Can't wait to return to have it again.
(5)
Allison T.
Great spinach salad. Mary Burger was tasty (and enormous). The crabcake appetizer made a perfect entree and was delicious- especially the creamed corn (which was nothing like what you might be thinking when I say 'creamed corn'). Finished it off with the lemon bar- different take on a lemon bar but quite yummy. Good bourbon selection, too. Would return next time I'm in the area.
(4)
Hazen C.
Great ambiance. Great food. Service is always a little slow. But it's a fantastic place to eat and have drinks. There is no patio- it's chairs and tables on sidewalk / parking lot in case you wanted a nice patio.
(4)
Lanie V.
Table of four split the things below. I can't say one bad thing about our experience except that I wish that I would have dined here much sooner. I'm very excited about what the chefs at Heirloom are creating. It rivals the best New American restaurants in Louisville, and is definitely worth the drive. The Midway Main St. charm only adds to the wow factor. We are coming back, and bringing more friends. Cheese plate with the best green olives Crab cake (yes! In landlocked KY!) Warm spinach salad (with bacon dressing!) Chilled carrot soup with garlic essence Potato and asparagus salad Beef tenderloin Grouper with risotto (my order and personal favorite) Agnolotti with pea shoots Passion fruit and mango financier Rocky road deconstructed Coconut curry ice cream with cake Raspberry ice cream Chocolate Mousse plate (semifredo, brownie, a bourbon ganache, etc) Limoncello Gin martini with thyme (gin from Wisconsin)
(5)
Jenn M.
Best meal I've had in Kentucky. Four of us dined together and everything from start to finish was perfection. A truly delightful dining experience.
(5)
Glenda G.
My daughter and I both enjoyed this restaurant. We both had the crabcake which was delicious. Everyone was very nice and pleasant. We would definitely go back.
(5)
Erica B.
This was the most impressive dinner we had while visiting Kentucky. Heirloom is located in a tiny historic district outside Lexington - and the restaurant itself has a cozy, romantic atmosphere. They rely on seasonal, local ingredients, so the menu changes frequently and the specials all sound enticing. Our table shared an order of the homemade sausage appetizer, which came with mushrooms, gnocchi, and a poached egg. We had to request an extra basket of warm, crusty French bread to sop up all the decadent, yolky sauce. The marvelously creamy, fresh-tasting gazpacho was another hit, even if I do not want to know how much olive oil is required to produce that velvety texture! The rabbit wrapped in bacon, ultra-tender pork tenderloin, seared duck breast, and English pea agnolotti were all so delicious that the entire table was inducted to the clean plate club. For dessert, we shared an order of deconstructed blueberry cobbler - intensely flavorful cooked-down blueberries topped with a cornmeal shortcake and berry meringue - and a dish of olive oil cake with strawberry ice cream and a jammy strawberry sauce. It is a rare thing to visit a restaurant where every single dish that comes out of the kitchen is well thought out and executed splendidly. On top of that, our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu and just plain delightful. The restaurant was buzzing throughout the evening, so weekend reservations are a must. If you are in the Lexington area, Heirloom is a must-try.
(5)
Jack T.
What negatives can you really give when it comes to this establishment? I could see one saying the price is a bit high, but what do you really expect when you fine dine!? I, for one, believe the quality of the food justifies the premium pricing. It's a multiple award winner and for good reason. I've never had a steak like the one they prepare. Not to mention the chicken during lunch. If you happen to go at night you will get the meet the owner's father, Henry. Love talking with that sweet man. Hope everyone else enjoys as much as we do!
(5)
Donna L.
Once again I am stopping in Midway for a little get away from life and I am at Heirlooms. My favorite waiter was here and everything was as excellent as the first visit. This is a wonderful lunch or dinner in the middle of Woodford County.
(5)
Sarah W.
I had probably one of the top 3 meals of all time here. The chef is a mastermind. It is clear he has an extensive array of flavors and textures that he selects from and expertly blends to culminate in a wondrous tasting adventure. I want to try everything! There is strict attention to the detail of every part of his dishes. No you will not get a heaping pile of food, but if you are looking for entrees that will delight and challenge your palate, this is the place to be. I do wish he used social media more to post his daily entree specials, but it seems he puts it all together an hour before opening which I guess highlights his genius ability.
(5)
Mark E.
We have had three great meals at this restaurant. Not only is the food excellent, flavorful and inventive, the staff is friendly and helpful. Cocktails are very good and the wine list is excellent. The pours on the wines by the glass are sizable. They even made up some blue cheese stuffed olives for the perfect martini. The chicken livers are one of the dishes they are 'known for'. I'm not partial to them, but each time our party ordered them and everyone loved them. We haven't tried their special burger yet, but maybe next time. Spend a few extra minutes and walk around downtown Midway during your trip. Lots of quaint stores and shops to explore.
(5)
Don M.
We had reservations for 6:30. Got right in no issues at all. Sat down and went over specials and explained it very well. They actually ate the specials so it was refreshing to have first hand knowledge. Had the Caesar Salad and it was good. Wife had Spinach salad and loved it. Crab Cake was the best part of the meal... Wish they had like 2 as an entree with w vegetable side. That would be incredible. I had the best burger I have ever had. Yes I had the burger... My wife had the Angolotti and she loved that as well. Honestly, it was the best experience we have had in along time (next to Malones). I will definitely go back for a special occasion.
(4)
Sarah F.
An absolutely charming spot in "downtown" Midway with some really excellent food. I went there for lunch recently with my mom and had a crab cake sandwich with fries. Crab cakes are always a risk away from the coast, but I think I can honestly say that this was the best I've had short of Maryland. Much more crab than breading and topped off with a flavorful jalapeno slaw. The fries are "frite" style which come in their own paper wrapped metal cone on the side and are crisp and delicious. The interior isn't large, but very elegant. Service was attentive, but not intrusive. Prices are not inexpensive, but still a good value for the quality of food. I can't wait to go back and try dinner here (which has the potential to bump this place up to 5 stars if it lives up to my expectations based on lunch).
(4)
dennis m.
I haven't experienced anything else quite like Heirloom. The area is fantastic, quaint little street with a few small ma & pop shops, defiantly worth checking out. As for the restaurant, it was tough for me to get into. I had to make reservations through Open Table three (that's 3) weeks out to fit our schedules together, I'm excited! Few restaurants around require reservations, and difficult to get reservations are unheard of around here. The atmosphere is just great. Clean, modern, warm, fairly small, and great staff, expectations and excitement for dinner are pretty high at this point. The food was, well... Dull. I had a scallop appetizer, not bad but it just didn't work for me. The warm spinach salad was just that. Warm spinach with a bacon dressing. Tasted like spinach and bacon grease. Two things I love, but where is the pazazz? The entrees were more of the same. Chili roasted tiger prawns were shrimp coated in Mae Ploy chili cause over rice cake. Cook shrimp, coat in sauce from the grocery store and serve... It tastes good, but for $26 give me something I can't throw together at home in 5 minutes. The Capellini was also good, but at the same time just kind of dull. Noodles and crab with a lime slice to make it "interesting." It's not bad food, but to be absolutely honest, I've had better from Chili's or Applebees, and I don't like those kinds of restaurants one bit. I expect to be blown away and left wanting more, or at least planning my next trip before I leave if I'm paying nearly $30 per entree.
(2)
FoodE Y.
Wow! What a cool restaurant. The ambiance is really girly and fancy. Perfect lunch spot of southern belles to meet their girlfriends. But it is also for the business travelers. I would recommend going there for lunch. Midway is a ritzy town and this restaurant fits perfectly. The lunch portions were perfect. Not too much not too little. The customer service could have been improved a bit. The one person was waiting on all the guests. The food was awesome! The soups were great and the risotto was amazing! Definitely have a meal here if you are in the area!
(4)
Garth E.
A real winner on what is undoubtedly one of the quaintest streets in America. I've been trying to find one word to describe the food, but I need a pretty intense word, something that means delicious/unique/flavorful/interesting/delicious (yes I know delicious is there twice). The crab cake was gigantic and had an amazing crab flavor complemented perfectly by juicy kernels of corn that had just been cut off the cob. For my entree I had the Capellini Pasta with Alaskan King Crab, chiles, and loads of parmigiano reggiano. I was amazed at how much crab I got. There were huge chunks of freshly shelled crab (even had a few pieces of intact claw meat) and the sauce was perfectly spicy. There is so much to this restaurant, many different layers that somehow work together to create an amazing experience. It feels like a small-town restaurant using farm stand ingredients and that ultra trendy urban restaurant that you can never get into, all at the same time. And it works. I can't wait to go back to Heirloom, it's just a shame I'm not in Kentucky more often.
(5)
Peter B.
After a day at the races in Lexington, my friends and I decided to visit the small town of Midway, KY where the Main St. (aptly named) houses a number of shopping boutiques and bistro restaurants. This is where we found Heirloom. Chef/owner Mark Wombles comes from terrific cooking pedigree, having attending culinary school in San Francisco and working with notable chefs like Michael Mina. The flavors and styles he experienced in Northern California are present in the food he prepares at Heirloom. The room is very austere. Walls are adorned with a unique style of artwork known as mon-kiri, a Japanese method of paper cutting. A series of high banked booths run along the sides of the room with a small number of 4-top tables in the middle that are rearranged to fit expanding diner group needs. There's a small bar in the back right of the room which didn't show much activity, even on a Friday night. I and two of my friends started with the warm spinach salad. The waitress described this dish as a "must not miss" option. The spinach was indeed warm but not wilted. It was served in a delicious red wine vinaigrette with bacon, goat cheese, roasted peppers and topped with crispy fried onions. While quite pleasing, the salad could hardly be described as an essential component to a perfect meal. Another of my friends ordered the curry red lentil soup which she said was well-layered with rich flavors. It was with the entrees that the chef's culinary flair was best on display. I was quite impressed with the code wrapped in thin slices of baking potatoes and broiled to perfection, served with a pancetta and English peas cream sauce. The beef tenderloin, cooked perfectly to the temperature ordered, was served over a bed of purple Okinawa mashed sweet potatoes with a broccoli gratin and a Malbec sauce. Simply remarkable! The Infamous Mary Burger was quite large and served with a cone filled with crispy thin fries. Had we not been full from the meal and a day of munching on racetrack food, we would most certainly have tried the desserts. The molten chocolate cake looked quite appealing. If you're on the bourbon trail and looking for a great place to wind down the day, then hustle over to Midway and sit yourself down at Heirloom. You will not be disappointed!
(4)
John H.
Very good, but not 5-stars. My lunch had a few slip-ups that, IMHO, keeps it from 5 stars: chicken was somewhat overcooked, and my entree didn't come with any vegetable (not even a small side salad). The server also wasn't the most pleasant person. Heirloom is clearly a very good restaurant, and I would certainly go back again, but it has a little bit of improvement before I would call it a five star restaurant.
(4)
Whitney P.
This foodie loves heirloom. Divine and delicious food! Highly recommend. Worth the drive to quaint Midway. My favorite of the midway dining establishments.Go!
(5)
Joanna S.
We went here for Valentines day this year, what a great experience. Our server was wonderful and the food - out of this world. Such a nice atmosphere as well.
(4)
Brad C.
As far as interesting food near Lexington, this is tops. Ambience is fantastic. Picture a storybook town with a train through the middle. Then picture stepping into a contemporary restaurant space in a major city. That is the contrast created by the designers of Heirloom. The menu is a reflection of this aesthetic. Or, more accurately, this aesthetic is a reflection of the menu: fried chicken livers (southern to the core) in an interesting sauce with microgreens (city). Shrimp and grits reimagined with diver scallops. Acorn squash soup with curry. The menu changes frequently. It's down home ingredients with a contemporary flair. It's a damn simple formula, and it's done extremely well here. Romatic. Excellent wine list. The trip out of town improves the experience. Take Old Frankfort Pike. It's beautiful. We need more of these. Only complaint is the weird fan thing over the door. That sound is way more distracting than the trains that barrel through town. Oh, and more vegetarian options for the wife.
(5)
Daniel G.
Great atmosphere and food. Service not as bad a some have stated. Mary Burger is one of the best I have had this year. They had run out of the dessert we wanted. Too long of a trip to return soon, but we'd go back and try dinner.
(4)
Jeff R.
Absolutely best meal I've had since moving to Kentucky. About 11 miles outside of Lexington, Heirloom is fantastic. I started with the fried chicken livers, which were amazing. Then had the duck, cooked perfectly. And finished with the cinnamon, espresso, chocolate chip ice cream - not as creamy as I like, but still, very tasty. Worth the trip, and I'm going back as soon as I can. Like any high end restaurant, Heirloom needs to pair beers with the food as well as wine. That is my only critique.
(5)
Tom T.
Bourbon carrot soup was excellent but the fish and chips were not good. I think dinner is a much better time to come than lunch and will return when I am in the area. It is pretty small though so would expect to wait. More vegetarian options would be nice, also some local beers to accompany the great wine selection.
(4)
Lucy H.
Food was great, service was horrible. The waitress completely ignored us for our entire meal, even with our trying to wave her down. Took over 25 minutes to get her to pick up our payment and get change back.
(3)
Shaggy S.
Service is excellent. Waiter thought that we were waiting too long for food and offered free wine. Food is great. Atmosphere is modern and relaxed. Would recommend to anyone for a special ocassion or just some wine.
(5)
Linda C.
Brought my out-of-town, big city friends to Heirloom after an exciting Saturday at Rolex. The place was rocking when we arrived for our 7:30 reservation! We were seated immediately, and the service was excellent from the first to the last minute of our stay. The food? There is nothing approaching the excellence of Heirloom in Midway or Lexington--or for that matter, in Kentucky. Every single item was delicious. Our waitress was a pro. My guests oooh-ed and ahhh-ed their way through the meal. Opportunity for improvement: stock a juice or two and a couple of soft drink items. Heirloom is always my first choice for an excellent meal, cool ambience, a glorious evening!! Many thanks to Chef Mark Wombles and his fabulous staff. Bravo!
(5)
William N.
Awesome food, awesome service! Cant get enough of this restaurant.
(4)
Brian R.
My wife and I have dined at most of the nicer local restaurants in Lexington and the surrounding area and this is, without a doubt, the best of the bunch. The atmosphere is modern and chic, but the star of the show is the food. Everything is freshly prepared, creatively presented, and tastes out of this world. The place has only been open for 4-5 months, and we've eaten there 5 times. The menu shifts from time to time depending on what is available fresh and locally. I have enjoyed a great calamari appetizer, a heirloom tomato salad with garlic infused vinaigrette, a roasted duck entree, broiled sea bass another time. Basically, you just can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The molten chocolate cake for dessert is out of this world. They also have a very good wine selection if that is your thing. You can expect the entree to run $18-25, which is a very good price for what they are offering. You owe it to yourself to check this place out. Take a date there for a very special evening. We take all of our out of town guests there whenever we can. Reservations would be a good idea especially on the weekends. During the week, you can usually get a table there without a problem. But that might change in the coming months as word gets out about this fabulous place. Don't worry about directions too much. Go to Midway and there is one main street along the train tracks. It is there nestled on the south side of street amongst the other restaurants, antique shops, and a bookstore.
(5)
Kim N.
What a gem in the heart of Midway! All the staff were warm and friendly when we arrived very early for our reservation. Luckily they have a small bar at the back and we were able to have a couple drinks before dinner. They were even thoughtful enough to bring out these amazing, warm pretzel rolls for us to snack on. Our dinner was delicious. We started with the chicken livers and the crab cake. Both were very good. My husband had the rack of lamb, which was tender and flavorful, albeit a little salty. I had the pork chop and it was also very good, just slightly dry. I can't wait to return and sample more items in this lovely restaurant. Heirloom isn't pretentious; it is classy and sophisticated. And taking reservations is necessary when a restaurant is this busy, so make sure you have one if you plan to have dinner there on a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)
Why W.
Meals were divine. Chicken Liver with lemon - unique and delicious Crab cake sandwich - huge and full of authentic crab Saw a bacon burger - thought it looked unreal! Wanted to eat here again but ran out of time on our vacation. We also ate at the Grey Goose (down the street), Heirloom was so much better.
(5)
Kate S.
LOL! I just read Todd W's review of Heirloom and I don't think he and I ate at the same restaurant. I work in Midway, and I can tell you that we do have several restaurants in town, but few of them are worth a second meal. If I want pizza, Grey Goose makes a decent one (but the rest of their lunch menu is uninspired). Holly Hill Inn is good for dinner, but they don't serve lunch. Don't even get me started on Wallace Station. I love Heirloom. I either eat here or take out from here at least once a week. The chef, knowing I am trying to follow a Weight Watchers diet, has been wonderful about special requests...arugula salad instead of fries, no bun on my crab cake sandwich. The food is tasty, fresh, and exactly the right portion size for lunch. The servers have sampled all of the food and they know what to recommend. They are proud of their restaurant, and they should be. I have never had a bad meal here and I've probably eaten here more than 40 times. I have, on more than one occasion, come in for lunch definitely sweaty and smelling of horses. I have never felt uncomfortable or been guided to a back table. I have brought family and friends here for special occasion lunches, but I am usually here alone, using the break to catch up on emails, and the booths are a quiet place to relax for a few minutes. A few of my favorite things here: The Mary Burger with grilled onions and blue cheese, the shrimp and grits, the crab cake sandwich, and the seasonal soups. I know their dinner menu is more expansive, and one of these days I am going to have dinner here...when I do, I'll post a review. In the meantime, don't believe EVERY review you read, but do believe this one: Heirloom is the one beautiful exception to a dearth of lunch possibilities in Midway.
(4)
Zach B.
The food here is fantastic. I might have had the best burger of my life at lunch- don't skimp out, get the works with blue cheese grilled onions and bacon. Not for a quick meal though. Dress is casual.
(5)
Jim H.
We tried to go to 815 Prime, only to discover it was out of business. Luckily, this place was just a few stores down. The service was excellent. The staff was very friendly. The food was good. I will be coming back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
W L.
Absolutely the best restaurant in LEX area. We just wish they were closer to LEX. Creative and simple menus. All dishes are executed perfectly. Service is pleasant, attentive, friendly and yet not pretentious or overbearing. Mike and William surely are very knowledgeable about the wine! Everything we tried - Salads (root vegetables, Caesar, and warm spinach salads), appetizers (scallops, chicken livers), and entrees (rabbits, duck breast, beef tenderloin, and red snapper) - were all delicious and beautifully presented. Desserts (chocolate molten cake, ice creams, and a caramel apple and cake dessert whose name we forgot) were perfect, too: not too sweet and creative. Always a good time at the Heirloom!
(5)Anna S.
My husband and I ate at Heirloom for the first time earlier this month. It came highly recommended for serving southern comfort food with a big city twist. The recommendation was well deserved, because we both loved the food, service, and atmosphere. And, the prices were very reasonable for the quality that we received - we were pleasantly surprised, considering the food was terrific and we both left so stuffed we could barely walk (thanks to the southern comfort aspect!). The restaurant is tiny (so reservations are almost requisite), and it is snugly situated in picturesque historic Midway (quaint and home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the Bluegrass State). The interior is very nice and reflects a more upscale dining experience (but seemed kind of lackluster to me, since the hearty but gourmet food itself and the natural beauty of Midway outshines any big city trappings). Our server was a very sweet girl who gave just enough personalized attention without overdoing it. She was familiar with the food preparation and answered all of our questions accordingly (i.e., I'm not a big fan of servers who don't know anything about the menu, or who assert unhelpful comments like "I don't like fish so I don't know"). We both had salads: I had the warm spinach salad and my husband had the roasted beet salad. We loved my warm spinach salad, which was pungent with vinegar and creamy goat cheese - and it was HUGE. We could have easily split the salad. We also shared the crab cake with "sweet corn veloute, avocado, corn-cotija salad, sriracha honey." This appetizer was heavenly - the velvety sauce under the tender, golden crab cake was addictive - I ate it with a spoon! And the crisp sweet corn was just a lovely touch of texture. My husband isn't a fan of crab cakes (madness, I know) and he loved the dish as well. For entrees, he ordered the filet mignon with a veal glaze, and I had beef short rib on grits topped with a jicama slaw. I don't see either dish still on the menu, which is a travesty! They were both sexily prepared and throw-your-hands-up-and-holler delicious! My husband's steak was perfectly cooked and the veal glaze topping it was just ridiculous. And I loved my dish: the meat was fall-off-the-bone tender, the grits were luscious (I love me some grits, and loved that they made an appearance on a 'fancy' menu) and the jicama slaw was a perfect and crunchy topping. I truly hope that these entrees will make a reappearance again, because we fully intend to return Heirloom! Our sweet server also had the chef special prepare me an Irish coffee upon my request (something they don't normally have on the menu), since we were both so stuffed - we couldn't finish our entrees or have dessert - and I didn't think I'd make it home without a jolt of caffeine. The Irish coffee was perfect, and the chef had hand-whipped some cream on the spot (they should seriously put this permanently on the menu, as my man did a good job improvising). The final check (glass of wine, Irish coffee, two salads, appetizer and two entrees) was about $120 - very reasonable, considering we have spent that much per person in Cincinnati alone. And, we both agreed that Heirloom easily rivals any of the big city restaurants we've dined at...and, I'll say it, for the price, quality and portion sizes, I think Heirloom trumps my favorite fine-dining Cincinnati restaurant, Boca (gasp!). We definitely found a new favorite and will return the next time we want to splurge a bit.
(5)Hánnah M.
Elegant, cozy little restaurant in quaint Midway. Great service and delicious food. The beef tenderloin entree was really wonderful- purple potatoes and the most amazing broccoli gratin you can imagine.
(5)Greg G.
First time eating here and it was fantastic! The crab cake & Cuban sandwiches were delish! The atmosphere is very nice and downtown midway is really a great place to visit if you haven't been. The drive on old Frankfort pike is beautiful and a must if you're going to Midway. I will be back!
(5)Bryan R.
Absolutely the best dining experience I ever had. The staff was over the top in their patience with us and was very helpful with our choices. Everything was locally grown and it was outstanding. From appetizers to dessert, we were not disappointed. I highly recommend the Beef tenderloin.It was perfection on a plate.
(5)Beth C.
My husband had the burger and said its the best he's had in a restaurant! I had the gyro and it was great... Fries were good and crunchy as they should be. Would definitely recommend this place!
(5)Steve B.
They really need to update their winelist. I had taken the trouble to look up several of the wines online to pick the best ones. Then when we ordered them we found they brought different vintages, including a replacing a high-end 2009 Napa cab with a 2011. The 2009 was an excellent year, and the 2011 was a crappy one. They did this for several wines. These were $100 wines.
(3)Heather S.
Who would think that you could get an amazing crab cake in central Kentucky?!? Here it is. This adorable restaurant right on Main Street in Midway had incredibly fresh and delicious food. I had mâché salad and crab cake. My husband had the duck. He said it might have been the best dick he's ever had..... And that's Saying something! Don't miss the sautéed chicken livers in a cream sauce. So tender and delicious. Sop up the extra sauce with their delicious bread. We would come back here in a hot minute.
(5)Stephanie B.
Why are you still reading reviews, just go here. Period. Do it. Now! We were looking fora good meal on a rainy night after the Bourbon Trail and boy did we find it. This place was perfection. The service was top notch and the food was amazing! I'm pretty sure I made inappropriate moaning noises while eating my beef tenderloin. The decor is cute and cozy. Stop reading and go now, really.
(5)Jennifer M.
I have to update my review. The day after the incident that I describe below the manager of Heirloom left me a voice mail. She was apologetic for the experience I had, assured me that Heirloom strives to provide exemplary service, and offered a gift certificate to entice my return. She could not have handled herself and the situation better. While the gift certificate is a gracious offer that I will not decline, the apology and acknowledgement of the experience is even more valuable to me. Sadly, it is not often that this kind of prompt and courteous customer attention is offered by businesses. Additionally, the owner called today to express sentiments similar to those offered by his manager. In an instant, they restored all of the warm, fuzzy feelings that I have for this establishment and all of my positive experiences at Heirloom now overshadow this minor hiccup. Well done!
(5)Christy A.
One of our best meals ever! Spectacular food and impeccable service! Highest recommendation, so thankful we went here for our anniversary!
(5)Swatee G.
So service has been awful the past couple of times, we have spent an average of 2.5 hours for dinner! BUT, m not taking any stars off.. if you go taste their Butternut Squash Autumn Bisque, you will know why.. if you don't wipe your place clean and are left wanting more, I will be surprised.. no..shocked! Also for someone without an exotic wine palette, and a lover of sweet wines like me - they have the Carl Lowen Reisling.. my latest fav wine.. love it..! Oh the crab cakes.. did I mention those.. DO NOT miss them. get it? If you don't get it.. you are just wasting your time here!
(4)Susan B.
Had lunch here traveling through to Canada. All meals in the group were very delicious. From salads to burgers to steak sandwiches. Wish there was one closer to home!
(5)Brian J.
My wife wanted to try this restaurant for her birthday. It has a beautiful ambiance (if somewhat feminine), and an interesting menu. The dishes we tried (steak, duck and chocolate cake) were all very good and creative, but also too small for my taste. My duck breast entre basically consisted of three small medallions of meat -- certainly not the entire breast -- and left me feeling hungry. The warm chocolate cake was nice but not memorable, a very small portion, and certainly didn't live up to its $10 price tag. Overall the prices were in par with fine dining in Lexington, but the portion sizes were not. You're paying for ambiance and location here. My wife said she would be happy to go back for another special occasion. I'm not so sure.
(3)David L.
Our innkeepers at Swans Nest suggested we tootle over to Midway to see the dining options and we booked a table here. We were not disappointed!!! The food was delicious cooked fresh and served by some very attractive staff...do all the women who work at this place have to have long flowing locks??? We started with sauteed chicken livers and a sausage broth dish....and as members of the British Sausage Appreciation society the dish got 10/10!!!!!! For mains we had the halibut tempura, and this batter was proper tempura batter, light crisp and subtle. My beef tenderloin was cooked rare...just as I had asked. Yup the blood flowed and bloody tasty it was too! The design of the restaurant was contemporary and they have created a great atmosphere....loud enough to have presence but quiet enough to chat. We were VERY impressed with our dinner.....book as it does get busy...but do visit...it's really worth the drive. The South African red wine, having just returned from there, was excellent and good value.
(5)Gabriella T.
We were have been driving across the country for the past two days and were visiting a friend in Georgetown when we happened upon Heirloom. The menu was mouth watering to read with lots of different options. We ended up ordering the monkfish and agnolotti with the mange salad. All three were delicious and great recommendations from our waitress. We highly recommend Heirloom if you are looking for great ambiance and a meal to match.
(4)Lee G.
Favorite little get away restaurant. The red snapper and pea agnolotti was out of this world. The warm spinach salad and the chocolate lava cake are also knock-outs. I have no idea how Heirloom only has 4 stars....some people may just not have great taste. But I assure you, if you like fine, delicious food, you'll love this place. Don't go here if you're a boring diner who orders a grilled chicken sandwich at every restaurant. Go here if you appreciate a wonderfully talented chef, excellent wines and cocktails, impeccable service, and a nice evening of dining.
(5)Josh S.
We were in town doing a tour of the Bourbon Trail and found this gem. I know if we are ever back in the area I know we will be returning. I started off some bourbon, neat as they have a fairly good selection in their bar. We'd read about the spinach salad so we gave it a shot. Wow, it was good. Moving on to our entree I went with the Beef Tenderloin which was cooked perfectly. The sweet potato was interesting in a good way and the malbec sauce was perfect. The presentation was great and the dish looked as good as it tasted. Bottom line was this place was great. It was pretty affordable for what you get, but it's more than a trip to AppleBee's. Do yourself a favor and give this place a shot, you'll be glad you did.
(5)Fritz E.
The place was packed...on a Wednesday evening! The aromas were great. Wine was flowing freely - 50% off in-stock bottles of wine! We were tended by the friendly Gretchen. Started with a French Champagne...yum Appetizer was Halibut Tempura (fried white fish...). Came with a Uzu sauce...we quickly devoured this plate! Dinner: wife had the perfectly cooked Tenderloin with a blue cheese rich sauce...she wouldn't share. The couple bites I snuck in proved this was some tasty beef. I doubled down in Halibut. To try to get the crispy outer layer, Chef overcooked the top portion if the fish. Very edible just made for a good chew. Great crust though! I could see this as a regular lunch or dinner place if I lived nearby.
(4)Charlie H.
Great place! I have never had a bad meal here. As I told the chef the steak I had was as good and tasteful on the last bite as well as the first. Service has always been good and presentation well done. If you haven't been here you, it should be on your list!!
(4)Todd W.
Pretension run amok. For me, the best part of serendipitous restaurant discovery in a small town is the opportunity to find that rare gem of culinary masterwork in a quaint and unpretentious setting. Unfortunately, you will find neither at Heirloom. My wife and I literally stumbled across this place after a day of sightseeing while on a family visit. Upon walking in, we knew we'd made a mistake. The stark walls of white and muted tones were as cold as the smile of the hostess. After asking if we had reservations (What?! You DO realize there's a train track running through the middle of this one-street-light town, right?) - of course we did not - she promptly shuffled us to the back of the restaurant. Not that this mattered. The uncomfortable booth seating rises so high that there's hardly a chance of feeling the vibe of the place. The ambiance in a nutshell: horrible lighting + minimal interior interest + the smell of kitchen disinfectant. Yea. Our meals, once ordered, took over twenty-five minutes to arrive. The good news for us was that this allowed the waiter plenty of time to promise us how excellent it was going to be when it finally arrived. He lied. The meal itself was adequate at best. Nothing to write home about, and certainly not worthy of the pretension being dished out in spades. My advice - stay well clear of this establishment until the obviously neophyte restauranteurs fold up and allow someone with real chops - and a congenial small town attitude - to open a spot worth visiting.
(1)Sarah B.
Two words: chicken livers. Served with lemon ricotta ravioli and lemony parmesan arugula... so rich yet balanced with just the right amount of acid. I can't say enough about this dish. Can't wait to return to have it again.
(5)Allison T.
Great spinach salad. Mary Burger was tasty (and enormous). The crabcake appetizer made a perfect entree and was delicious- especially the creamed corn (which was nothing like what you might be thinking when I say 'creamed corn'). Finished it off with the lemon bar- different take on a lemon bar but quite yummy. Good bourbon selection, too. Would return next time I'm in the area.
(4)Hazen C.
Great ambiance. Great food. Service is always a little slow. But it's a fantastic place to eat and have drinks. There is no patio- it's chairs and tables on sidewalk / parking lot in case you wanted a nice patio.
(4)Lanie V.
Table of four split the things below. I can't say one bad thing about our experience except that I wish that I would have dined here much sooner. I'm very excited about what the chefs at Heirloom are creating. It rivals the best New American restaurants in Louisville, and is definitely worth the drive. The Midway Main St. charm only adds to the wow factor. We are coming back, and bringing more friends. Cheese plate with the best green olives Crab cake (yes! In landlocked KY!) Warm spinach salad (with bacon dressing!) Chilled carrot soup with garlic essence Potato and asparagus salad Beef tenderloin Grouper with risotto (my order and personal favorite) Agnolotti with pea shoots Passion fruit and mango financier Rocky road deconstructed Coconut curry ice cream with cake Raspberry ice cream Chocolate Mousse plate (semifredo, brownie, a bourbon ganache, etc) Limoncello Gin martini with thyme (gin from Wisconsin)
(5)Jenn M.
Best meal I've had in Kentucky. Four of us dined together and everything from start to finish was perfection. A truly delightful dining experience.
(5)Glenda G.
My daughter and I both enjoyed this restaurant. We both had the crabcake which was delicious. Everyone was very nice and pleasant. We would definitely go back.
(5)Erica B.
This was the most impressive dinner we had while visiting Kentucky. Heirloom is located in a tiny historic district outside Lexington - and the restaurant itself has a cozy, romantic atmosphere. They rely on seasonal, local ingredients, so the menu changes frequently and the specials all sound enticing. Our table shared an order of the homemade sausage appetizer, which came with mushrooms, gnocchi, and a poached egg. We had to request an extra basket of warm, crusty French bread to sop up all the decadent, yolky sauce. The marvelously creamy, fresh-tasting gazpacho was another hit, even if I do not want to know how much olive oil is required to produce that velvety texture! The rabbit wrapped in bacon, ultra-tender pork tenderloin, seared duck breast, and English pea agnolotti were all so delicious that the entire table was inducted to the clean plate club. For dessert, we shared an order of deconstructed blueberry cobbler - intensely flavorful cooked-down blueberries topped with a cornmeal shortcake and berry meringue - and a dish of olive oil cake with strawberry ice cream and a jammy strawberry sauce. It is a rare thing to visit a restaurant where every single dish that comes out of the kitchen is well thought out and executed splendidly. On top of that, our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu and just plain delightful. The restaurant was buzzing throughout the evening, so weekend reservations are a must. If you are in the Lexington area, Heirloom is a must-try.
(5)Jack T.
What negatives can you really give when it comes to this establishment? I could see one saying the price is a bit high, but what do you really expect when you fine dine!? I, for one, believe the quality of the food justifies the premium pricing. It's a multiple award winner and for good reason. I've never had a steak like the one they prepare. Not to mention the chicken during lunch. If you happen to go at night you will get the meet the owner's father, Henry. Love talking with that sweet man. Hope everyone else enjoys as much as we do!
(5)Donna L.
Once again I am stopping in Midway for a little get away from life and I am at Heirlooms. My favorite waiter was here and everything was as excellent as the first visit. This is a wonderful lunch or dinner in the middle of Woodford County.
(5)Sarah W.
I had probably one of the top 3 meals of all time here. The chef is a mastermind. It is clear he has an extensive array of flavors and textures that he selects from and expertly blends to culminate in a wondrous tasting adventure. I want to try everything! There is strict attention to the detail of every part of his dishes. No you will not get a heaping pile of food, but if you are looking for entrees that will delight and challenge your palate, this is the place to be. I do wish he used social media more to post his daily entree specials, but it seems he puts it all together an hour before opening which I guess highlights his genius ability.
(5)Mark E.
We have had three great meals at this restaurant. Not only is the food excellent, flavorful and inventive, the staff is friendly and helpful. Cocktails are very good and the wine list is excellent. The pours on the wines by the glass are sizable. They even made up some blue cheese stuffed olives for the perfect martini. The chicken livers are one of the dishes they are 'known for'. I'm not partial to them, but each time our party ordered them and everyone loved them. We haven't tried their special burger yet, but maybe next time. Spend a few extra minutes and walk around downtown Midway during your trip. Lots of quaint stores and shops to explore.
(5)Don M.
We had reservations for 6:30. Got right in no issues at all. Sat down and went over specials and explained it very well. They actually ate the specials so it was refreshing to have first hand knowledge. Had the Caesar Salad and it was good. Wife had Spinach salad and loved it. Crab Cake was the best part of the meal... Wish they had like 2 as an entree with w vegetable side. That would be incredible. I had the best burger I have ever had. Yes I had the burger... My wife had the Angolotti and she loved that as well. Honestly, it was the best experience we have had in along time (next to Malones). I will definitely go back for a special occasion.
(4)Sarah F.
An absolutely charming spot in "downtown" Midway with some really excellent food. I went there for lunch recently with my mom and had a crab cake sandwich with fries. Crab cakes are always a risk away from the coast, but I think I can honestly say that this was the best I've had short of Maryland. Much more crab than breading and topped off with a flavorful jalapeno slaw. The fries are "frite" style which come in their own paper wrapped metal cone on the side and are crisp and delicious. The interior isn't large, but very elegant. Service was attentive, but not intrusive. Prices are not inexpensive, but still a good value for the quality of food. I can't wait to go back and try dinner here (which has the potential to bump this place up to 5 stars if it lives up to my expectations based on lunch).
(4)dennis m.
I haven't experienced anything else quite like Heirloom. The area is fantastic, quaint little street with a few small ma & pop shops, defiantly worth checking out. As for the restaurant, it was tough for me to get into. I had to make reservations through Open Table three (that's 3) weeks out to fit our schedules together, I'm excited! Few restaurants around require reservations, and difficult to get reservations are unheard of around here. The atmosphere is just great. Clean, modern, warm, fairly small, and great staff, expectations and excitement for dinner are pretty high at this point. The food was, well... Dull. I had a scallop appetizer, not bad but it just didn't work for me. The warm spinach salad was just that. Warm spinach with a bacon dressing. Tasted like spinach and bacon grease. Two things I love, but where is the pazazz? The entrees were more of the same. Chili roasted tiger prawns were shrimp coated in Mae Ploy chili cause over rice cake. Cook shrimp, coat in sauce from the grocery store and serve... It tastes good, but for $26 give me something I can't throw together at home in 5 minutes. The Capellini was also good, but at the same time just kind of dull. Noodles and crab with a lime slice to make it "interesting." It's not bad food, but to be absolutely honest, I've had better from Chili's or Applebees, and I don't like those kinds of restaurants one bit. I expect to be blown away and left wanting more, or at least planning my next trip before I leave if I'm paying nearly $30 per entree.
(2)FoodE Y.
Wow! What a cool restaurant. The ambiance is really girly and fancy. Perfect lunch spot of southern belles to meet their girlfriends. But it is also for the business travelers. I would recommend going there for lunch. Midway is a ritzy town and this restaurant fits perfectly. The lunch portions were perfect. Not too much not too little. The customer service could have been improved a bit. The one person was waiting on all the guests. The food was awesome! The soups were great and the risotto was amazing! Definitely have a meal here if you are in the area!
(4)Garth E.
A real winner on what is undoubtedly one of the quaintest streets in America. I've been trying to find one word to describe the food, but I need a pretty intense word, something that means delicious/unique/flavorful/interesting/delicious (yes I know delicious is there twice). The crab cake was gigantic and had an amazing crab flavor complemented perfectly by juicy kernels of corn that had just been cut off the cob. For my entree I had the Capellini Pasta with Alaskan King Crab, chiles, and loads of parmigiano reggiano. I was amazed at how much crab I got. There were huge chunks of freshly shelled crab (even had a few pieces of intact claw meat) and the sauce was perfectly spicy. There is so much to this restaurant, many different layers that somehow work together to create an amazing experience. It feels like a small-town restaurant using farm stand ingredients and that ultra trendy urban restaurant that you can never get into, all at the same time. And it works. I can't wait to go back to Heirloom, it's just a shame I'm not in Kentucky more often.
(5)Peter B.
After a day at the races in Lexington, my friends and I decided to visit the small town of Midway, KY where the Main St. (aptly named) houses a number of shopping boutiques and bistro restaurants. This is where we found Heirloom. Chef/owner Mark Wombles comes from terrific cooking pedigree, having attending culinary school in San Francisco and working with notable chefs like Michael Mina. The flavors and styles he experienced in Northern California are present in the food he prepares at Heirloom. The room is very austere. Walls are adorned with a unique style of artwork known as mon-kiri, a Japanese method of paper cutting. A series of high banked booths run along the sides of the room with a small number of 4-top tables in the middle that are rearranged to fit expanding diner group needs. There's a small bar in the back right of the room which didn't show much activity, even on a Friday night. I and two of my friends started with the warm spinach salad. The waitress described this dish as a "must not miss" option. The spinach was indeed warm but not wilted. It was served in a delicious red wine vinaigrette with bacon, goat cheese, roasted peppers and topped with crispy fried onions. While quite pleasing, the salad could hardly be described as an essential component to a perfect meal. Another of my friends ordered the curry red lentil soup which she said was well-layered with rich flavors. It was with the entrees that the chef's culinary flair was best on display. I was quite impressed with the code wrapped in thin slices of baking potatoes and broiled to perfection, served with a pancetta and English peas cream sauce. The beef tenderloin, cooked perfectly to the temperature ordered, was served over a bed of purple Okinawa mashed sweet potatoes with a broccoli gratin and a Malbec sauce. Simply remarkable! The Infamous Mary Burger was quite large and served with a cone filled with crispy thin fries. Had we not been full from the meal and a day of munching on racetrack food, we would most certainly have tried the desserts. The molten chocolate cake looked quite appealing. If you're on the bourbon trail and looking for a great place to wind down the day, then hustle over to Midway and sit yourself down at Heirloom. You will not be disappointed!
(4)John H.
Very good, but not 5-stars. My lunch had a few slip-ups that, IMHO, keeps it from 5 stars: chicken was somewhat overcooked, and my entree didn't come with any vegetable (not even a small side salad). The server also wasn't the most pleasant person. Heirloom is clearly a very good restaurant, and I would certainly go back again, but it has a little bit of improvement before I would call it a five star restaurant.
(4)Whitney P.
This foodie loves heirloom. Divine and delicious food! Highly recommend. Worth the drive to quaint Midway. My favorite of the midway dining establishments.Go!
(5)Joanna S.
We went here for Valentines day this year, what a great experience. Our server was wonderful and the food - out of this world. Such a nice atmosphere as well.
(4)Brad C.
As far as interesting food near Lexington, this is tops. Ambience is fantastic. Picture a storybook town with a train through the middle. Then picture stepping into a contemporary restaurant space in a major city. That is the contrast created by the designers of Heirloom. The menu is a reflection of this aesthetic. Or, more accurately, this aesthetic is a reflection of the menu: fried chicken livers (southern to the core) in an interesting sauce with microgreens (city). Shrimp and grits reimagined with diver scallops. Acorn squash soup with curry. The menu changes frequently. It's down home ingredients with a contemporary flair. It's a damn simple formula, and it's done extremely well here. Romatic. Excellent wine list. The trip out of town improves the experience. Take Old Frankfort Pike. It's beautiful. We need more of these. Only complaint is the weird fan thing over the door. That sound is way more distracting than the trains that barrel through town. Oh, and more vegetarian options for the wife.
(5)Daniel G.
Great atmosphere and food. Service not as bad a some have stated. Mary Burger is one of the best I have had this year. They had run out of the dessert we wanted. Too long of a trip to return soon, but we'd go back and try dinner.
(4)Jeff R.
Absolutely best meal I've had since moving to Kentucky. About 11 miles outside of Lexington, Heirloom is fantastic. I started with the fried chicken livers, which were amazing. Then had the duck, cooked perfectly. And finished with the cinnamon, espresso, chocolate chip ice cream - not as creamy as I like, but still, very tasty. Worth the trip, and I'm going back as soon as I can. Like any high end restaurant, Heirloom needs to pair beers with the food as well as wine. That is my only critique.
(5)Tom T.
Bourbon carrot soup was excellent but the fish and chips were not good. I think dinner is a much better time to come than lunch and will return when I am in the area. It is pretty small though so would expect to wait. More vegetarian options would be nice, also some local beers to accompany the great wine selection.
(4)Lucy H.
Food was great, service was horrible. The waitress completely ignored us for our entire meal, even with our trying to wave her down. Took over 25 minutes to get her to pick up our payment and get change back.
(3)Shaggy S.
Service is excellent. Waiter thought that we were waiting too long for food and offered free wine. Food is great. Atmosphere is modern and relaxed. Would recommend to anyone for a special ocassion or just some wine.
(5)Linda C.
Brought my out-of-town, big city friends to Heirloom after an exciting Saturday at Rolex. The place was rocking when we arrived for our 7:30 reservation! We were seated immediately, and the service was excellent from the first to the last minute of our stay. The food? There is nothing approaching the excellence of Heirloom in Midway or Lexington--or for that matter, in Kentucky. Every single item was delicious. Our waitress was a pro. My guests oooh-ed and ahhh-ed their way through the meal. Opportunity for improvement: stock a juice or two and a couple of soft drink items. Heirloom is always my first choice for an excellent meal, cool ambience, a glorious evening!! Many thanks to Chef Mark Wombles and his fabulous staff. Bravo!
(5)William N.
Awesome food, awesome service! Cant get enough of this restaurant.
(4)Brian R.
My wife and I have dined at most of the nicer local restaurants in Lexington and the surrounding area and this is, without a doubt, the best of the bunch. The atmosphere is modern and chic, but the star of the show is the food. Everything is freshly prepared, creatively presented, and tastes out of this world. The place has only been open for 4-5 months, and we've eaten there 5 times. The menu shifts from time to time depending on what is available fresh and locally. I have enjoyed a great calamari appetizer, a heirloom tomato salad with garlic infused vinaigrette, a roasted duck entree, broiled sea bass another time. Basically, you just can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The molten chocolate cake for dessert is out of this world. They also have a very good wine selection if that is your thing. You can expect the entree to run $18-25, which is a very good price for what they are offering. You owe it to yourself to check this place out. Take a date there for a very special evening. We take all of our out of town guests there whenever we can. Reservations would be a good idea especially on the weekends. During the week, you can usually get a table there without a problem. But that might change in the coming months as word gets out about this fabulous place. Don't worry about directions too much. Go to Midway and there is one main street along the train tracks. It is there nestled on the south side of street amongst the other restaurants, antique shops, and a bookstore.
(5)Kim N.
What a gem in the heart of Midway! All the staff were warm and friendly when we arrived very early for our reservation. Luckily they have a small bar at the back and we were able to have a couple drinks before dinner. They were even thoughtful enough to bring out these amazing, warm pretzel rolls for us to snack on. Our dinner was delicious. We started with the chicken livers and the crab cake. Both were very good. My husband had the rack of lamb, which was tender and flavorful, albeit a little salty. I had the pork chop and it was also very good, just slightly dry. I can't wait to return and sample more items in this lovely restaurant. Heirloom isn't pretentious; it is classy and sophisticated. And taking reservations is necessary when a restaurant is this busy, so make sure you have one if you plan to have dinner there on a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)Why W.
Meals were divine. Chicken Liver with lemon - unique and delicious Crab cake sandwich - huge and full of authentic crab Saw a bacon burger - thought it looked unreal! Wanted to eat here again but ran out of time on our vacation. We also ate at the Grey Goose (down the street), Heirloom was so much better.
(5)Kate S.
LOL! I just read Todd W's review of Heirloom and I don't think he and I ate at the same restaurant. I work in Midway, and I can tell you that we do have several restaurants in town, but few of them are worth a second meal. If I want pizza, Grey Goose makes a decent one (but the rest of their lunch menu is uninspired). Holly Hill Inn is good for dinner, but they don't serve lunch. Don't even get me started on Wallace Station. I love Heirloom. I either eat here or take out from here at least once a week. The chef, knowing I am trying to follow a Weight Watchers diet, has been wonderful about special requests...arugula salad instead of fries, no bun on my crab cake sandwich. The food is tasty, fresh, and exactly the right portion size for lunch. The servers have sampled all of the food and they know what to recommend. They are proud of their restaurant, and they should be. I have never had a bad meal here and I've probably eaten here more than 40 times. I have, on more than one occasion, come in for lunch definitely sweaty and smelling of horses. I have never felt uncomfortable or been guided to a back table. I have brought family and friends here for special occasion lunches, but I am usually here alone, using the break to catch up on emails, and the booths are a quiet place to relax for a few minutes. A few of my favorite things here: The Mary Burger with grilled onions and blue cheese, the shrimp and grits, the crab cake sandwich, and the seasonal soups. I know their dinner menu is more expansive, and one of these days I am going to have dinner here...when I do, I'll post a review. In the meantime, don't believe EVERY review you read, but do believe this one: Heirloom is the one beautiful exception to a dearth of lunch possibilities in Midway.
(4)Zach B.
The food here is fantastic. I might have had the best burger of my life at lunch- don't skimp out, get the works with blue cheese grilled onions and bacon. Not for a quick meal though. Dress is casual.
(5)Jim H.
We tried to go to 815 Prime, only to discover it was out of business. Luckily, this place was just a few stores down. The service was excellent. The staff was very friendly. The food was good. I will be coming back.
(4)