Food And Drink - Famous Ashley Grant

If you’ve been looking for a seafood spot in Lexington, Kentucky, you may have already come across Shaking Seafood and Wings of Lexington. My husband and I recently paid them a visit for the first time, and I’m here to give you a review of our experience.

TLDR: Would eat there again!

How We Ended Up There (It Wasn’t Exactly Planned)

Honestly, this was one of those spontaneous dinners that just kind of happens. We were out in Lexington on Saturday, February 21st, hunting for a new office chair for me and running errands. Before we knew it, it was getting late, and cooking dinner at home was completely off the table.

If you know me, you know how much I prefer eating at home. But, with hanger pains rearing their ugly head – it was time to eat! And, we were craving seafood…

We knew there were some seafood options in the area, and after a little debate about what was closest we picked Shaking Seafood and Wings of Lexington and decided to give it a shot.

We walked in around 9:15 PM. The restaurant closes at 11 PM on Saturdays, and there were still people there, so we figured why not? We stayed until closing along with several other folks that were glued to whatever sporting event was on at the bar. To be honest, I didn’t pay much attention so I couldn’t tell you what sport it was or who was winning.

Shell Yeah, Here’s What We Ordered

Once we sat down and got our menus, I asked our waitress for her recommendation. She pointed me straight to the fried catfish shaking tacos, and I went with it. They come with three warm tortillas filled with lettuce and coleslaw, topped with ranch, spicy mayo, and cheese.

They were genuinely impressive, and not too terribly expensive. I was surprised by how spicy they were, and the flavor was really well developed. Catfish can sometimes taste pretty bland to me, but that was not the case here at all thanks to the yummy sauce. The coleslaw on top was also really good, which I was not expecting to be a highlight but here we are.

My husband ordered a pound of snow crab from their seafood market menu, which came with two pieces of potato, one piece of corn, and one egg. For his sauce, he went with the Shaking Special, which is a combination of all three of their house sauces: Cajun (a blend of Cajun spices including cayenne pepper and paprika), lemon pepper (lemon zest with black pepper and light Cajun seasoning), and garlic butter (roasted garlic, melted butter, and light Cajun seasoning). The waitress recommended the medium spice level for the snow crab, and he took her advice on that too.

The Verdict on the Food

The snow crab at medium spice was no joke. It was the kind of heat that builds as you eat, so by the end of the meal you are really feeling it. My husband said he loved the snow crab legs and would absolutely order them again. I tried a little and thought it was delicious too.

The potatoes that came with his combo were perfectly seasoned (thanks to all the Shaking Special sauce all over the plate!) and really good. He also said the corn was fantastic. The egg, though? Neither of us were fans of that. It felt a little out of place to be honest, and we could have done without it entirely.

I let him try my catfish tacos and he agreed the catfish was cooked perfectly and the sauce was great. So basically we both enjoyed our dinner.

The Staff Didn’t Flounder Either

The waitstaff was lovely and very attentive. Any time we were running low on drinks, they were right there with refills. That kind of service matters, especially when you’re sitting down for a full meal close to closing time.

What I’m Reeling In Next Time

There were a couple of things on the menu that caught my eye that I didn’t get to try this time around. The crab cakes are at the top of my list. They’re made with lump crab meat and served with sweet butter corn and bell pepper, plus a choice of spicy mayo or tartar sauce. I love to make my own crab cakes at home, but I’m always curious to try them elsewhere.

I also want to go back for the catfish basket, which comes with four pieces of catfish plus fries and all the dipping sauces. If the catfish in my tacos was any indication, the basket is going to be really good.

My husband already has his next order picked out too. He’s going back for another seafood combo.

Is It Worth It? Let’s Talk Claws and Dollars

I will say that Shaking Seafood is a little pricey, but that’s pretty standard right now, and seafood especially tends to run higher due to market pricing. If you’re going in for crab, just know the price can vary depending on availability and the season. Going in with that expectation makes it easier to enjoy the experience without any sticker shock.

Our total with tax and tip came it at under $75, but considering what we ordered, we weren’t too crabby about the cost.

The Bottom Line

Shaking Seafood and Wings of Lexington is a Cajun style seafood restaurant with homemade sauces, solid food, and good service. For a first visit, we both came away happy and ready to go back. If you’re in Lexington and looking for a seafood dinner, it’s worth checking out.

You can find them at 3110 Mapleleaf Drive in Lexington, KY 40509. Their website is shakingseafoodlexington.com, here’s their Facebook page, or you can reach them by phone at (859) 264-8888.

Have you been to Shaking Seafood and Wings of Lexington? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

We spent Valentine’s Day visiting both Hooters in Lexington and Twin Peaks in Ohio, and let’s just say the results were not even close.

The Most Fun Valentine’s Day Plan Ever (Well, For Us)

Let me set the scene for you. It was Valentine’s Day, and my husband and I decided to spend it the way most couples do: going to not one, but two breastaurants in the same day.

Romantic? Maybe not in the traditional sense. But honestly? It turned into one of the most memorable days we’ve had in years, and a tale of two restaurants that couldn’t be more different.

A Little Background on Both Restaurants

First, a little history on both Twin Peaks and Hooters

Hooters was born on April Fools’ Day in 1983, in Clearwater, Florida, started by six businessmen who had zero restaurant experience between them. They were, by their own admission, just a bunch of guys who wanted a place to hang out. Well – one random Hooters press release I found cites October 4, 1983 as the opening day, but most sources say it started on April 1…

Somehow, that scrappy little idea turned into a cultural institution with locations across the globe. For a long time, it worked. The wings were iconic, the atmosphere was fun and a little kitschy, and it had this charm that made it feel like a place you could actually kick back and enjoy yourself.

Twin Peaks came along much later, founded in 2005 by Randy DeWitt and Scott Gordon in Lewisville, Texas. DeWitt had serious restaurant industry experience under his belt, and it shows.

He saw a thriving sports bar market and set out to build something with a mountain lodge feel and a focus on quality. Twin Peaks started franchising in 2007 and has been growing ever since, with a made-from-scratch kitchen and their signature 29-degree beer served in frosted mugs as key selling points.

Our Hooters Experience: Nostalgia with a Side of Disappointment

Now, back to our Valentine’s Day adventure.

We started the day at Hooters for lunch, and I genuinely wanted to love it. My husband and I used to go to Hooters when we were first dating, and it held a special place in our hearts. But after being away for a few years (I’d say at least four or five), walking back in felt a little like running into someone you used to know and realizing they’ve changed in ways you can’t quite explain.

Our waitress was decent enough, but the energy just wasn’t there. The wings were underwhelming. The sauces lacked the punch we remembered. And my husband’s beloved buffalo shrimp? Flat. Not terrible, just not what we expected from a place that built its whole reputation on that kind of food.

To be fair, Hooters has been going through some serious struggles lately, including sales that have dropped significantly over the past 15 years and a bankruptcy restructuring, with the original founding group now working to reclaim the brand and get it back to its roots. So maybe we caught them mid-identity-crisis. We genuinely hope they figure it out because there is nostalgia there, and nostalgia is a powerful thing.

Our Twin Peaks Experience: Everything Hooters Used to Be (and Then Some)

After a fun day at Jungle Jim’s International Market (because apparently we just go all out on Valentine’s Day), we headed to Twin Peaks in Ohio for dinner. And wow.

From the moment we walked in, the difference was noticeable. The restaurant was clean and well-kept. The mountain lodge atmosphere felt intentional and warm rather than like a theme someone gave up on halfway through.

Our server was genuinely attentive and friendly, not just going through the motions. The wings were better. The sauces were bolder and more flavorful. The cocktails tasted like someone actually cared about making them well.

Everything just felt elevated, like a place that has its standards set and actually holds to them.

The Verdict: Which One Is Worth Your Time?

So here is where we landed: we will happily drive an hour and a half to get to a Twin Peaks the next time we’re craving that whole experience. The food quality, the vibe, the service, the drinks… Twin Peaks delivered on every front where Hooters left us a little sad about the past.

Hooters invented the category. Twin Peaks perfected it. And on Valentine’s Day of all days, that felt like a verdict worth sharing.

My First Time at Shaking Seafood and Wings of Lexington: A Review