Convention Center in Rupp Arena…

[TheDude73]

No thanks. Reviews are there for a reason. I've been burned too many times over the years with your mindset. Things are too expensive to go around being a guinea pig.

It really isn't that bad. If you've eaten anything at KSBar and enjoyed it, you might have a lower taste bar than you're giving off around LexLive. That and KSBar smells like a puke / piss hall and the bathrooms are horrendous. Beer? Luke warm. Food? Sloppy, trashy, raw, cold fries and a burger that looks like it's been sitting around under a heat lamp for 3 hours and tastes like a patty of rubber bands.

I'm not here to defend LexLive, but 4.1 out of 5 stars on Google isn't atrocious. And it's not a place you go pre- or post-game and expect to get some kind of gourmet cocktails and special white linen dinner. You go there for the fan crowds, beverages and bar food (which actually wasn't horrible - not gourmet chef, but better than average), and those massive TVs. Service is likely the one thing that gets most bad reviews - they never have enough staff or bartenders to take on the load of people that come into a place this size.

Another thing to consider about the LexLive reviews - they include a theater, bowling alley and the bars and restaurant. So you'd have to peruse the 1500+ reviews in depth to look for food feedback. In my quick glance, most of the complaints were around service or something to do with the theater or bowling alley. The first page of reviews that had any 2-3 star feedback were not about the food or atmosphere.

KAB has it right, though. When I was there for my 4th game last year, someone told me about the upstairs bar by the theater. Lower level was packed with a line, but upstairs was like a private business class lounge. Escalator against the glass directly across from the massive main center bar takes you up.

 

[Padsfs07]

4.1* out of 5 review. Not shabby at all.
It's turrible I'm telling ya, just turrible!
BTW, Pope is turrible, Williams is turrible, Pope is turrible too.

When it comes to local businesses, I take yelp reviews as a 0 to 10 scale with 4.0 being the low end. Fast food scales range much lower.

 

[atticusfitch]

It really isn't that bad. If you've eaten anything at KSBar and enjoyed it, you might have a lower taste bar than you're giving off around LexLive. That and KSBar smells like a puke / piss hall and the bathrooms are horrendous. Beer? Luke warm. Food? Sloppy, trashy, raw, cold fries and a burger that looks like it's been sitting around under a heat lamp for 3 hours and tastes like a patty of rubber bands.

I'm not here to defend LexLive, but 4.1 out of 5 stars on Google isn't atrocious. And it's not a place you go pre- or post-game and expect to get some kind of gourmet cocktails and special white linen dinner. You go there for the fan crowds, beverages and bar food (which actually wasn't horrible - not gourmet chef, but better than average), and those massive TVs. Service is likely the one thing that gets most bad reviews - they never have enough staff or bartenders to take on the load of people that come into a place this size.

Another thing to consider about the LexLive reviews - they include a theater, bowling alley and the bars and restaurant. So you'd have to peruse the 1500+ reviews in depth to look for food feedback. In my quick glance, most of the complaints were around service or something to do with the theater or bowling alley. The first page of reviews that had any 2-3 star feedback were not about the food or atmosphere.

KAB has it right, though. When I was there for my 4th game last year, someone told me about the upstairs bar by the theater. Lower level was packed with a line, but upstairs was like a private business class lounge. Escalator against the glass directly across from the massive main center bar takes you up.

You have a serious hard on for KSR bar haven’t you?

 

[TheDude73]

You have a serious hard on for KSR bar haven’t you?

I guess you like it since you're here to defend them. That's fine, people love total sh*thole dive bars, too!

But to answer your question, no hard on. That place causes erectile dysfunction.

 

[wardlow]

Go across the street to Lex Live. Food good and such.

Didn’t even know about this place. Seems great. I’ll have to check it out next time

 

[wardlow]

It really isn't that bad. If you've eaten anything at KSBar and enjoyed it, you might have a lower taste bar than you're giving off around LexLive. That and KSBar smells like a puke / piss hall and the bathrooms are horrendous. Beer? Luke warm. Food? Sloppy, trashy, raw, cold fries and a burger that looks like it's been sitting around under a heat lamp for 3 hours and tastes like a patty of rubber bands.

I'm not here to defend LexLive, but 4.1 out of 5 stars on Google isn't atrocious. And it's not a place you go pre- or post-game and expect to get some kind of gourmet cocktails and special white linen dinner. You go there for the fan crowds, beverages and bar food (which actually wasn't horrible - not gourmet chef, but better than average), and those massive TVs. Service is likely the one thing that gets most bad reviews - they never have enough staff or bartenders to take on the load of people that come into a place this size.

Another thing to consider about the LexLive reviews - they include a theater, bowling alley and the bars and restaurant. So you'd have to peruse the 1500+ reviews in depth to look for food feedback. In my quick glance, most of the complaints were around service or something to do with the theater or bowling alley. The first page of reviews that had any 2-3 star feedback were not about the food or atmosphere.

KAB has it right, though. When I was there for my 4th game last year, someone told me about the upstairs bar by the theater. Lower level was packed with a line, but upstairs was like a private business class lounge. Escalator against the glass directly across from the massive main center bar takes you up.

Disappointed to hear the bad reviews about KSBar. I didn’t get to stop by, but would at least expect the beer to be cold.

 

[TheDude73]

Disappointed to hear the bad reviews about KSBar. I didn’t get to stop by, but would at least expect the beer to be cold.

I can't speak for long term as I don't live there. Went twice during my 5 visits last season and the only reason I returned is that I met up with an old friend there before we headed down to Pies & Pints. Both times the beer was lukewarm. Didn't eat there the 2nd time as it was pretty bad the first time and we had plans anyway to have a pie and a pint pre-game!

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Nic & Norman's makes the best old fashioned I've ever had in my life. I sat there one night last year and that bartender fed me 4 of them. Thankfully, my hotel was just around the corner...

Haven’t had an old fashioned there. They make a whiskey sour the right way, with egg whites. 👍

So I imagine the old fashioned is pretty good. Next time we go there I’ll have one. ☝️

 

[westerncat]

I used to love going to Tally Ho's when it was at the original location. Last time we went to a Tally Ho's (after Pope's introduction) the girl at the register couldn't correctly count back change from a $20 bill.

Most young people can't do that today because of all the technology. I have run into that myself. Power was out and the girl try to give me to much back and i had to correct her. Sad how things are today.

 

[NociHTTP]

Most young people can't do that today because of all the technology. I have run into that myself. Power was out and the girl try to give me to much back and i had to correct her. Sad how things are today.

That was what happened to me, i.just told her she'd had a long day.

 

[TheDude73]

Haven’t had an old fashioned there. They make a whiskey sour the right way, with egg whites. 👍

So I imagine the old fashioned is pretty good. Next time we go there I’ll have one. ☝️

They make it with agave syrup. Not unusual, but whatever this guy does is amazing. I've tried to recreate it at home but still can't.

 

[CapnBlubs]

I miss the old food court because all the shops and food was RIGHT THERE. Escalators indoors. Ain’t gotta go outside and walk down the ****in street.

Was an awful choice for convenience. The mall and food court ****in ruled.

I agree, I miss the way it was. When we even had the little basketball museum in there and everything in the 90s.

 

[jpbky2]

I looked up some reviews on LexLive, and let's just say that it's not as great as some in here think.

Why don't you look up who made the reviews on LexLive and discover they trash everything. Look a little deeper into the reviews and notice they all happen about the same time (competitors?). My recommendation is check it out for yourself and then decide. I have never been disappointed going to LexLive.

 

[canebreak]

I looked up some reviews on LexLive, and let's just say that it's not as great as some in here think.

Well, it isn't special. But it does beat the crap out of what the civic center use to be. Not sure what you were looking for in reviews? It is a bar with bar food and an excellent place to watch any game. What did you think you would find? Any reviews are a pretty unreliable source. Word of mouth much belter. Having said all that they need to do something with some pop inside the civics center. But there is a pretty huge development underway right across the street in the old festival market. Lexington isn't that big. Can only support so much. And there is another development planned for the old Rupp parking lot on high street.

 

[kywildcats8]

Going to LexLive is the next closest experience. It’s not the same, but it’s as good as we’re going to get now that they made the convention center soulless.

We were at the game Sat, live in Phoenix and went to LexLive and it was pretty good- bars, food, bowling, movies etc and right across the street

 

[NociHTTP]

Well, it isn't special. But it does beat the crap out of what the civic center use to be. Not sure what you were looking for in reviews? It is a bar with bar food and an excellent place to watch any game. What did you think you would find? Any reviews are a pretty unreliable source. Word of mouth much belter. Having said all that they need to do something with some pop inside the civics center. But there is a pretty huge development underway right across the street in the old festival market. Lexington isn't that big. Can only support so much. And there is another development planned for the old Rupp parking lot on high street.

I believe reviews can give you an excellent idea as to what to expect. For how much it costs anymore to go out and eat, my standards are relatively high.