Stella's Kentucky Deli - Lexington, KY

Renee's Turkey and cheese sandwich, served with potato chips and a pickle.

When you drive down Jefferson Street in downtown Lexington, you see several KY proud restaurants: The Blue Heron, Grey Goose, and Nick Ryan's, just to name a few. One place in particular stands out, with a unique yellow exterior and bright red awning - and that place is Stella's Kentucky Deli. Inside, you'll find a cozy, quaint dining experience where everything is hand made with local ingredients, and the servers are very friendly. 

Sara's Revro Burger, also served with potato chips and a pickle.

Our first visit here was for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon; it was a little crowded but not so much that we couldn't find a table right by the end of the bar. I (Renee) ordered the turkey and cheese sandwich with your standard lettuce, tomato and an extra special side of dijon mustard; and to me, the way that the chef used a thicker cut of meat really took this sandwich to the next level. Sara met me there, and she had the Revro Burger featuring bacon, garlic mayo and two fried green tomatoes. According to her, nothing says yummy in your tummy like the combination of beef, pork and a savory fried veggie! We also tried their large selection of desserts, because why not! I had the Mary Porter pie, which includes all things sweet from the kitchen sink (which is a major plus for me, I have quite the sweet tooth), and Sara chose the Chocolate Bourbon Brownie. Both treats were excellent, not only because we love chocolate, but also because all of the desserts at Stella's are made in-house, giving it that extra oomph. 

The super-delicious Chocolate Bourbon Brownie garnished with a couple of dollops of whipped cream.

Stella's serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as brunch on the weekends. They also offer catering with advanced notice. It's a short walk from all of the major downtown attractions (Rupp Arena, Cheapside pavilion, Lexington Opera house, etc.), and is a nice little slice of Americana in downtown Lexington. They have an outdoor patio for enjoying a nice afternoon/evening meal, and inside there is a full bar with rotating taps featuring many of the local brews, which is perfect for happy hour. The menu also includes several meals that are vegan-friendly, so there's something for everyone to enjoy! Street parking is available in front of Stella's, as well as all the way down Jefferson Street. I hope you like Stella's Kentucky Deli as much as Sara and I did, and we can't wait to go back and try all of the other delicious sandwiches!