Lexington restaurants with the best Kentucky football tailgate takeout specials
With the University of Kentucky Wildcat football schedule in full swing, fans are in the mood for tailgating at games.
While lots of people like to grill their own burgers, there are catering options if you’d rather spend your time chowing and cheering than cooking and cleaning at your tailgate.
For crowd-pleasing, it’s hard to top barbecue.
Or maybe you want a special meal geared to a specific game, such as gator when the Cats play Florida on Oct. 2 at Kroger Field in Lexington.
Either way, here are some of the best, local can’t-miss restaurants to order takeout whether it’s the whole meal, a side dish or just dessert.
Sutton’s
110 N. Locust Hill Dr., 859-268-2068. Sutton’s specializes in Italian, so you could get pans of pasta, lasagna and salads. But they also do sandwich platters and burger bars, bourbon chicken, Tuscan marinated pork chops and much more, including desserts.
Bourbon ‘n’ Toulouse
829 Euclid Ave. 859-335-0300. Every year Bourbon ‘n’ Toulouse cooks 30 gallons of alligator Étouffée for the Florida football game and this year will be no different. They only make this dish three times a year and it has it’s own cult following. They will start serving gator at 11 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, while supplies last. Limited amounts of quarts will be available to pick up for tailgating.
You can also pre-order tailgating packages of any of their other dishes. Their small tailgating package consists of one entree, rice, bread, buffet set up and paper products to feed 15-20 people for $105. The large option feeds 30-40 and includes your choice of two entrees for $200. Call to place a tailgate order.
Gumbo Ya Ya
1080 S. Broadway, 859-252-9292, and 294 E. Brannon Crossing, 859-245-9292. Gumbo Ya Ya will have their famous alligator sauce piquant on Oct. 1 in both stores. Gumbo Ya Ya does a Cajun Family Meal that feeds eight to 10 people for $40-$45 and includes two sauces, rice or pasta and a loaf of homemade garlic bread. Gallons of sauce are also available for $55. Call the Brannon location in advance to order.
Blue Door Smokehouse
226 Walton Ave., 859-252-4227. Blue Door sells brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken and smoked sausage by the pound, plus pints, quarts or gallons of sides including potato salad, creamy cole slaw, vinegar slaw, collard greens and ranch beans. You can also get extra sauce. Call or order online in advance. Note: Blue Door announced that it will be closed Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and 2.
Red State BBQ
4020 Georgetown Rd., 859-233-7898. Red State has Game Day Packages including beef jerky, wings, sauces, sides, beer cheese, buns and pounds of pork, chicken or brisket. For 10 people ($140), 20 ($245) or 40 ($450) or you can get just wings: 50 wings with a quart of Buffalo sauce and a quart of Ranch, celery and carrots for $70. Order in advance.
J. Render’s Southern Table & Bar
3191 Beaumont Centre Circle, 859-533-9777. When they aren’t booked for weddings and other catering gigs, J. Render’s can do smoked meats. But even when they can’t do the meat, they can cover the sides. Smoked wings, ribs, smoked buffalo chicken dip, spinach & artichoke dip, white chicken chili, Brunswick stew and pork Beignets are available. Order in advance.
Selma’s Catering
720 Henry Clay Blvd., 859-971-2763. Selma’s can do fried chicken, pulled pork, burgers and brats, sides and more, including chili. Don’t forget desserts. You can get it by the pan or boxed for individual servings. Order in advance.
Seasons Catering
333 N. Ashland Ave., 859-266-6661. Seasons Catering can do custom catering packages, big and small for tailgating. But if you really want something impressive, get an ice luge with the UK logo sculpted in. You pour drinks down the ice luge and into a glass, instantly cooling them.
DaRae & Friends Catering
3459 Buckhorn Dr., 859-272-8003. Looking to go gourmet? Check our DaRae’s Bundles of Love. Or order Southern specialties from the catering menu, such as yeast roll sandwiches, mini croissants with chicken salad, empanadas and more. Order in advance.
Critchfield Meats
398A Southland Dr., 859-276-4965. Critchfield bought the former Save-A-Lot and picked up the fried chicken baton. You can order 48 pieces of fried chicken for $54.99 and large sides for $4.69 each. Limited quantities, call in advance.
The Mousetrap
3323 Tates Creek Rd., 859-269-2958. Known for its pimento cheese, The Mousetrap also does party trays such as deli sliders, charcuterie and shrimp, boxed lunches and soups by the quart. Order in advance for guaranteed availability.
Donut Days
185 Southland Dr., 859-277-9414. Looking for something sweet to bring to the tailgate? Donut Days does iced football cookies and cakes. Order in advance.
Ranada’s Kitchen
496 E. High St., 859-687-1000. Ranada’s has tailgating packages that feed up to 20. The First Down, $300, includes Kentucky Darling Meats burgers, marinated grilled chicken breasts and beef hot dogs, with buns and condiments, baked beans and slaw. The Field Goal, $450, adds fruit tray and veggie tray with dips. The Touchdown, $600, adds potato salad, pasta salad and cookie and brownie tray. Orders can be customized and black bean burgers are available. Order in advance. Delivery and set up also available.
