Restaurants in Frankfort, Kentucky

[The Old School JPS]

I haven't spent much time in Frankfort in several years. How are the restaurants there now? What places would you recommend, or not recommend? What's new there?

[cbc317]

Frankfort has seen some growth in the past couple of years and there are a number of "chain" restaurants if that is what you are looking for. There is a Chili's, O'Charley's, Applebees, Johnny Carinos located off the Lawrenceburg/Frankfort exit. If you are looking for more of a local feel, there are a couple of Mexican stops (Miguel's is located off the Frankfort/Versailles exit, Casa Fiesta is located on the west side) and a pretty good Thai spot (Thai Smile also located on West side (lawrenceburg exit).

[jwade]

Jim's Seafood is still down by the river where it's always been. There used to be an upscale place downtown on the corner of St. Clair Mall - Bullfrog's I think it was called. Is it still there?


Jim

[Wildcat Larry]

I spent a lot of times at Bananas Tavern some 20+ years ago when I worked in Frankfort. I nice dark place with good drinks and good food that worked just fine for illicit rendezvous. :eek:

[UK Lola]

I spent a lot of times at Bananas Tavern some 20+ years ago

Showing my age here, but was that place originally called Monkey's Uncle?

[Grub]

Showing my age here, but was that place originally called Monkey's Uncle?

I thought Bananas Tavern was located in Richmond. Was there one in Frankfort also?

[jwade]

IIRC, Monkey's Uncle became Banana's Tavern which then went on to become a Mexican restaurant whose name escapes me, but which was known locally as the "Mexican Monkey."


Jim

[moody85]

Bullfrog's has been closed for a long time. Now there's a restaurant in that spot called Serafini, run by the same folks who own Portofino and Portabella's in Lexington.

[Wildcat Larry]

Showing my age here, but was that place originally called Monkey's Uncle?
Yeah, that was originally Monkey's Uncle. I had forgotten that.

Anybody remember Saylor's (or was it Sailor's) on the other end of Frankfort? Some folks thought that was a good place to eat, but I never thought the food was very good there.

Also, there was a restaurant, whose name totally escapes me, downtown on the street (another case of name escape) that the railroad track ran down the middle that was pretty good. It wasn't right across from the old capitol building, but down the street to the east.

Also, I remember a pizza place on St. Clair Mall (the area right across from the old state capitol building) across the mall from the Kentucky State Employees Credit Union.

I spent some time in the bar at the Holiday Inn, too, but I don't think I ever had any food there. I was too busy trying to be inconspicuous.

[Wildcat Larry]

I thought Bananas Tavern was located in Richmond. Was there one in Frankfort also?
There was also a Bananas Tavern in the Idle Hour Shopping Center out Richmond Road in Lexington. My high school classmate Richard Green was the "chef" there, and he could cook up some good chow.

[The Old School JPS]

Where exactly are Thai Smile and Johnny Carino's? What does Johnny Carino's serve?

Is Serafini still there?

Are Saylors, Marshalls or the White Castle-looking place by the bridge still there?

Does anyone remember Flynn's?

[jwade]

Where exactly are Thai Smile and Johnny Carino's? What does Johnny Carino's serve?

Is Serafini still there?

Are Saylors, Marshalls or the White Castle-looking place by the bridge still there?

Does anyone remember Flynn's?

Serafini is still there, I think. Don't think Saylor's is. Flynn's is long gone. Probably more deals cut in the back room of Pete Flynn's than anywhere else in town - back in the day.

Remember The Cave?


Jim

[Wildcat Larry]

I remember Flynn's, but not Serafini's. Where was Serafini's? There was also the Cliff Hagan Steakhouse out in the Penny's shopping center.

I spent some time at the drive-in liquor store across from Saylor's. Driving your car to the drive-up window and getting a strong mixed drink was an interesting experience. Probably not exactly politically correct these day. :eek:

[jwade]

I remember Flynn's, but not Serafini's. Where was Serafini's? There was also the Cliff Hagan Steakhouse out in the Penny's shopping center.

Serafini is across Broadway from the Old State Capitol. Corner of W. Broadway and St. Clair, I believe. Cliff Hagan's is long gone, too. The last Cliff's that I'm aware of is/was in Hazard.


Jim

[The Old School JPS]

Serafini is still there, I think. Don't think Saylor's is. Flynn's is long gone. Probably more deals cut in the back room of Pete Flynn's than anywhere else in town - back in the day.

Remember The Cave?


Jim

I do remember The Cave. I think it is gone now - the whole thing. I think the location is/was behind where that big new building was built for Transportation. I'd assume the building for The Cave is gone and perhaps the actual cave itself, too.

I do remember Cliff Hagan's. By the early 1990s it was a Columbia Steakhouse.