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  • The Tulip Bistro + Bar

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Reserve at The Tulip Bistro + Bar

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The Tulip Bistro + Bar
The Tulip Bistro + Bar

The Tulip Bistro + Bar Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Elegant
  • Website: http://thetulipbistroandbar.com
  • Phone: (859) 367-6687
  • Hours of Operation: Dinner: Monday - Thursday:4:00pm - 10:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 4:00pm - 10:30pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: American, French
  • Executive Chef: Spencer van den Dool
  • Dress Code: Business Casual
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Private Party Facilities: We offer set menu's for large parties to suit any needs you may have. Contact Shawn Deakins to set an appointment.
  • Private Party Contact: Shawn Deakins (859) 367-6687

Getting there

  • Cross Street: Cooper
  • Parking: Public Lot
  • Parking Details: We offer parking in our lot or on the street.
A word from The Tulip Bistro + Bar
The Tulip Bistro + Bar is a small treasure in the Chevy Chase Neighborhood. Chef Spencer van den Dool has worked in fantastic local restaurants such as Pacific Pearl and Emmett"s before going to Holland and working at a 2 michelin star restaurant called De Kastanjehof, where he fine tuned his… French-American cuisine. The menu offers such things as Mussels, Fish and Chips to Curried Seafood & Short Ribs. There is something for everyone! Our wine list covers most of the world, while our martini list features old and new favorites, such as Tulip Margatini, Blue Goose and The Grand Cosmo.The Tulip will impress you and have you making a reservation for your next visit. Continued
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerBest Overall
  • Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food
  • Diners' Choice WinnerAmerican
Diner Reviews
  • "Food was excellent but our waitress lost us after the appetizers"
    Dined on 7/12/2014
  • "The bar had a crowd who were incredibly noisy, so it was hard to talk over dinner. The oystrers Rockefellar aren't, but edible. The outside patio would be nice but lots of evening sun. Service was good."
    Dined on 7/5/2014
  • "The Tulip has a great atmosphere. The food was really good. A short concise menu with great daily specials. Service was a little slow. The place doesn't look like much from the outside but it is beautiful on the inside. Lots of drink choices from cocktails to wines. Will definitely be coming back."
    Dined on 7/2/2014
  • "A great place to celebrate our wedding anniversary - romantic table for 2, great service, great food. Short ribs were wonderful and recommended by our waiter. Will go here again."
    Dined on 6/23/2014
  • "This is one of our all-time favorites in Lexington. We are never disappointed when trying new dishes or the specials. Their fillet mignon is absolutely perfect, as well as the Caesar salad. I would highly recommend this restaurant to any locals or if having friends coming from out of town."
    Dined on 6/21/2014
  • "Great food, well presented. We split the 8oz filet mignon and it was cooked just to our specifications. The $4 split fee assured we got regular size sides. The server was very attentive and helpful with suggestions. when we split the meal as has happened in some other nice restaurants."
    Dined on 6/21/2014
  • "Great Dinner with friends. Also saw lots of people we knew."
    Dined on 6/13/2014
  • "Extremely poor service. Took 40 mins to get first round of drinks. Food was excellent however, entrees were brought out halfway through apps. Instead of recognizing and fixing their error, the server and staff just asked us to help them clear bread/empty plates to make room. I was with in-laws and didn't want to make a scene but the service was absolutely appalling."
    Dined on 6/13/2014
  • "We love that the Tulip is so close to our home. The mussels are always wonderful (ask for more bread for the sauce--mmmmm) and the filet was cooked perfectly. The Tulip is a must if you haven't tried it."
    Dined on 6/6/2014
  • "The menu is a playground of flavor. It was very hard making a decision on what to eat because everything looked, smelled, and sounded delicious. So we ordered numerous items including steak, pasta, salmon, oysters, crab dip, and wine. It was all amazing. So happy we decided to spend our anniversary there. Worth every penny. "
    Dined on 6/7/2014
  • "We dine at Tulip regularly and enjoy the food and usually the entire experience. Our female server was absolutely horrible with a bad attitude included. It took 15 mins to get a glass of wine. She told us the bartender was very busy with a large party. I spoke to the manager and he said they were not busy (which was apparent) and the "large party" was one of 7. It took so long after for order to receive dinner, that I cancelled my order. When we received the bill, my dinner was included. The manager said he wanted to make it up to us. How did he do this? He didn't. The manager has always been a nice guy, but he nothing to reprimand the server or bartender and did nothing to make our experience acceptable. ""
    Dined on 5/24/2014
  • "Nice place but the acustics are bad. Very loud and hard to hear. The food was very good though."
    Dined on 5/15/2014
  • "The food was very good the waitress was not as knowledgeable as the waiter I had the last tme I was there."
    Dined on 5/13/2014
  • "I was treated to birthday dinner recently. Drinks, were outstanding. However, the bloody mary could have used a stalk of celery and maybe another garnishment. We enjoyed oysters on the half-shell and fried oysters were cooked to perfection. We had early evening reservation and noise level began to pick up as tables began to fill. I could see where it would be difficult at times to converse with table mates. "
    Dined on 5/8/2014
  • "The menu was varied and each of us had something very different. All dishes were very good. Sauces complimented the foods nicely. Drink service was slow. "
    Dined on 5/8/2014
  • "Went on a Thursday evening for an early Mother's Day dinner. Oysters Rockefeller was a great appetizer. She crab soup bowl was almost a meal in and of itself. I had the prosciutto wrapped shrimp and my wife had the chicken dinner. Everything was great. It got a little busy after we ordered so service slowed a little but my beer never ran out! All in all a great dining experience. "
    Dined on 5/8/2014
  • "Great service( Newton)..fantastic meal.... Chargrilled oysters , crab dip, shrimp & grits ~grits were spicy & creamy-delicious!! Shorts ribs are also a must. Staff and Mgr. are always helpful."
    Dined on 5/8/2014
  • "Everyone enjoyed their meal. All five of us could have a conversation. Close to home for all of us!"
    Dined on 5/6/2014
  • "Good food, great service. Noise level very high, especially near the bar area. When requested different table because we were next to the bar and could not hear one another (there were several tables available), the hostess became quite annoyed that she had to move us. "
    Dined on 4/25/2014
  • "Great food, service, and fun !!! The chefs specials are delicious as well as menu items !! Will return.... many times!"
    Dined on 4/24/2014
  • "I believe my experience at Tulip could have been great, but the execution just wasn't there. From the moment we walked in the door, every part of the experience seemed to be in slow motion. We waited at least 5 minutes to be seated, another 5 or so minutes before we saw our server, and so on. Our server was nice and the drinks were great, but I found every other part of the experience lacking. I had the filet which probably would have been great if it didn't seem to be sitting under a heat lamp for a while before it got to me. My lady had the salmon and did have nice things to say about it. Unless I'm looking for a solid Manhattan, I think I will be going elsewhere in the future."
    Dined on 4/23/2014
  • "The service was pleasant and attentive but slow. The noise level inside was loud even as the evening went on and the restaurant emptied. The food was very good. The wine list decent. The highlight of the evening was the filet - medium rare - outstanding!"
    Dined on 4/12/2014
  • "Everything we ordered was excellent. Would have gone back the next night if we had time. Only thing I didn't like was our seating location- right in walkway by bar."
    Dined on 4/11/2014
  • "We dine at this establishment six times per year. Sometimes one element of excellence is missing (service, cocktail, food, etc.). On this night everything hit the mark and combined to ensure a most stellar experience. Of particular note were the fantastic oysters, delicious cocktails, sumptuous salad and thoughtful, attentive service. Were every visit like this experience we would scarcely go elsewhere for dinner."
    Dined on 4/11/2014
  • "We frequent The Tulip often. We live in the neighborhood and it is a great place for great food."
    Dined on 4/11/2014
  • "The Tulip is a very nice local restaurant, well supported by people living in its up-scale neighborhood. The menu is varied and relies a good deal on locally grown, fresh food. Think good American/Continental food, oftentimes with an interesting twist. For my tastes, they strike a good balance by retaining the integrity of the underlying dish, but opening it up with unique preparation methods, sauces and side dishes. The prices are high, but pretty much a bargain for the quality of the food. I've always found the servers to be very pleasant, attentive and knowledgeable. The ambiance is nice enough, but it does get pretty loud when the place is full. It's a good choice for a night out with friends, when you want to linger over a meal."
    Dined on 3/29/2014
  • "The Tulip is truly a neighborhood gem. The menu is diverse, the food is delicious, and the service was good. On a crowded night it can be noisy. The four of us had the grilled wedge and short ribs both of which are delicious. This restaurant is definitely a favorite of ours. We have never had a bad meal here."
    Dined on 3/28/2014
  • "My friend and I had an early dinner and we both chose items from the lighter fare. The fish and chips was the best I have had in Lexington. The haddock was flaky and the batter was light. It was a generous portion for "lighter fare." My friend had a steak sandwich w/o the bread. She said the steak was tender and delicious. This was our first visit and we'll be back!"
    Dined on 3/25/2014
  • "For a consistent cozy place--the is the stop to make. You can talk, dine and drink and enjoy an absolutely perfect evening! Don't forget to try the short ribs and the seafood chef's selection appetizer! They are beyond compare!"
    Dined on 3/22/2014
  • "We researched online for places to go for our anniversary dinner. The reviews for The Tulip were spot on! We had the beef tips and chicken Provencale. They were both delicious. We enjoyed every part of our dining experience except the noise level."
    Dined on 3/20/2014
  • "My wife and I ate dinner there with another couple; we had a very nice evening and enjoyed drinks, appetizer, main course, and dessert."
    Dined on 3/15/2014
  • "We went for my mother's birthday, and she absolutely loved it. All of our food was delicious, I recommend the chicken roulade. The service was great, we never went without beverages, and we had a lovely time. My only complaint would be someone who I assumed to be a manager or head bartender peacocking around talking to people he knew about new drinks he was developing and information about the restaurant, but he was loud and interjected many swear words into his speech for emphasis. I realize this isn't a huge deal in regular conversation for most people, but this was a nice dinner out for my mother, and he was standing next to us for most of that conversation. I would still go back, hopefully he won't be there."
    Dined on 3/11/2014
  • "Four of us had an exquisite dinner at the Tulip. The service was very good and the meals were delicious and provided with pleasing presentation. I had the lamb shank and it was the very best I've had in Lexington. Two people in our party requested substitutions, all were accommodated."
    Dined on 3/8/2014
  • "It is so noisy that you cannot hear the person sitting next to you. Rowdy and loud bar scene @6:30 on a Friday night."
    Dined on 3/7/2014
  • "Overall, very satisfied with out dining experience. Food was good, but didn't quite live up to the high prices for most entrees. Only true issue I had was that the Tulip opened at 4pm....our reservations were for 4:30 yet when we arrived and were seated we were informed that they don't serve entrees until 5pm??? It was not a problem since we enjoyed a few pre-diner cocktails while waiting, but I found it strange they accepted reservations during a period of time they didn't serve."
    Dined on 3/8/2014
  • "Great chocolate creme brûlée! A little expensive ."
    Dined on 2/27/2014
  • "Delicious food attractively presented. Located in a safe, residential neighborhood near downtown. Easy parking. Handicap accessible. Outdoor seasonal seating. Worth a drive into town if you are coming from out of town."
    Dined on 2/26/2014
  • "My Valentine and I had a very special romantic dinner for two. As you can see from the review I was quite pleased. Thanks for a wonderful evening."
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "Went for Valentine's Day, so it was a limited menu, and even considering the holiday, I felt it was a little overpriced. The main problem was the noise. We were seated in the bar area, which I thought was odd considering there were open tables in the room off to the side of the bar, and we could barely have a conversation over the noise. Overall decent experience."
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "Love this place. Chicken wontons and shrimp apps are incredible. Short ribs are amazing. Creme brûlée tops off the night well."
    Dined on 2/13/2014
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Diners' Choice Awards
  • Central Kentucky Winners
  • American
  • Neighborhood Gem
  • Lexington Winners
  • Best Overall
  • Best Food
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Neighborhood Gem
  • Outdoor Dining
  • Most Booked
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