Win, Place, Show Dining Near Keeneland

Tony's in Lexington is a fantastic retaurant to try if you are in town for the 2015 Breeders' Cup World Championships. (Photo courtesy of Tony's)
Heading to Lexington, Ky. for Keeneland’s fall meet or the Breeders’ Cup and not sure where to eat? No worries! I’ve detailed three dining options for you and a plus one below, ringing in around $200 (win), $100 (place) and $50 (show).
Win: Tony’s (Pictured above)
Located on the square in downtown Lexington, Tony’s boasts itself as a new kind of steakhouse - one that is luxurious without pretension, elevates hospitality, value and taste and is operated by its owner, Tony Ricci.
On the menu you’ll see they have a raw bar, sides including such fan favorites as Five Cheese Mac and Bourbon Whipped Sweet Potatoes, appetizers such as Rassati Steak Tartare and salads including the classic tomato and mozzarella.
Tony’s entrees include New Zealand rack of lamb, braised short ribs, bone-in pork chops, oven-roasted chicken, a handful of seafood options and seven different steak dinners (with nine delectable toppings you can add on).
And of course, Tony’s has an extensive wine, bar and, a Kentucky favorite, bourbon lists.
There isn’t a shortage of food to order, so if you’re anything like me, look at the menu in advance especially because the online menu is interactive - allowing you to click on its items for descriptions and suggested wine pairings.
Place: Le Deauville

Photo courtesy of Le Deauville
Le Deauville is the place to go for French cuisine in downtown Lexington. It’s a cozy, dim, authentic French-feeling restaurant right in the center of the Bluegrass. It’s definitely a place to go when you have time to sit and enjoy the company of whomever you’re dining with.
My favorite thing here is the mussels. You can order them one of five ways: Mussels a la Dijonnaise - steamed mussels with white wine and Dijon mustardMoules a la Diable - steamed mussels with spicy tomatoMoules Marinere - steamed mussels with white wine, garlic and baconThai Mussels - steamed mussels with coconut milk, garlic and green curry (my personal favorite)Créole Mussels - steamed mussels with chorizo, tomato, onion and garlic

Photo courtesy of Le Deauville
They also offer a wide variety of savory and sweet crepes, soups, salads, escargot, seasonal seafood and a nice selection of entrees. Don’t forget to check the specials – they’re always whipping up something exciting!
A cheese plate, crepes (savory for the main meal and a sweet one for desert), mussels served with French fries and a nice bottle of wine make for the perfect dinner for two - bon appétit!
Show: The Local Taco

The Local Taco is known for, well, their tacos, but they also serve quesadillas, salads, enchiladas and desserts if any of those better suit your fancy.
Not only are the tacos scrumptious, they’re also only $3 each. They’re made with flour tortillas, but you can get corn if you prefer. I typically order two or three tacos (less if I’m getting sides and dips to share). Here are my favorites:
Spicy Shrimp - Buttermilk soaked and fried crispy. Topped with jalapeño cole slaw.Korean BBQ - Korean-style beef tenders, sesame seared with Asian slaw, toasted sesame seeds and green onionSmoked Brisket - Slow-smoke pulled beef brisket with mole rojo, pickled onions and cilantroBuffalo Chicken - Southern fried chicken with buffalo hot sauce, bleu cheese, pickled celery, lettuce and tomatoes
Guacamole is 25 cents extra per taco, so just go for the gusto and order the queso, guacamole and salsa dip trio.  If you’re feeling super hungry go ahead and order a side of Mexi Tater Tots to share – they are finger-lickin’ good.  They've got sangria beer to quench your thirst if you need something a little stronger than water or soda.
The Local Taco is definitely a meal for two under $50 kind of place! Check out the Lexington-specific menu for the full list and pricing of the good eats they serve.
Enjoy your trip to the Bluegrass with fast horses and good eats. As the Italians say - buon appetito!