I don't know about you all, but here at Bluegrass Bourbon and Eats we LOVE breakfast. Personally, most mornings (and if we're being honest, my mornings start around lunch time since I'm a staunch second-shifter) consist of oatmeal or a hard-boiled egg, so anytime I'm able to get out and enjoy a good old fashioned sit-down breakfast I'm a happy panda. Renee and I recently checked out a local breakfast/lunch joint called the Lexington Diner, and let me tell you...it was delish! 

The Lexington Diner is located on the corner of Short Street and Upper Street in the bustling downtown area of Lexington; it's interior has an authentic diner feel, featuring a modest dining area decorated with unique local decor. We wandered in around 10:30 on a Sunday morning, and although this time tends to be peak brunch hour, we were immediately able to score a table near the door. Our waitress appeared very quickly as well, inundating us with the day's specials and offering up a fresh cup of coffee, which I more than excitedly accepted (I'm a bit of a coffee addict!). Renee jumped head-first into a batch of Cinnamon Roll French Toast, coming highly recommended by our awesome waitress, while I had my sights set on the Smoked Gouda Omelet and cheese grits. Needless to say both dishes were amazing! Renee's french toast tasted just like a cinnamon roll; it even had a drizzle of sweet cream cheese on top! And my smoked gouda omelet was excellent, filled with bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms and all the gouda you could ask for. The cheese grits were a perfect compliment to the omelet, adding some texture to a well-rounded breakfast. 

Although our initial trip to the Lexington Diner was to check out the breakfast menu, we're both ready to head back in and see what lunch has to offer. They serve up two award-winning burgers (the Kentucky Bourbon Burger and the Jive Burger), as well as an intriguing bowl of chili made with Lexington's own Country Boy Cougar Bait blonde ale (they also serve this as a nacho dish, which I hear is a favorite of Food Network star Alton Brown). They also offer baked goods from Dutch's Bake Shop, a local bakery near the Nicholasville road area. Parking is available at metered spots on both Upper Street and Short Street, and there are a few parking garages nearby if street parking is hard to come by. Located just blocks from both Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky, the Lexington Diner is a great place to start a day full of exploring the unique places that downtown Lexington has to offer. Stop in and check it out if you haven't already had the pleasure; I know Renee and I will be back soon!