Casual or fast/casual is likely the go-to choice for most Americans when dining out and it's NOT a particularly special occasion...and maybe when it is. But how folks want to treat "special occasions" with regard to restaurant selection is subjective.

Maybe your favorite casual dining establishment IS where you want to celebrate a birthday, promotion, or anniversary. Or maybe you just want to splurge on that special night. I can't say I blame you.

The Most Expensive Restaurant in Every State

Lovefood.com is actually a pretty handy website for anyone who, well, LOVES FOOD. From awesome air fryer and slower cooker recipes to helping you learn what you  can prepare just from what you have in your pantry right now, it really is all things food.

And if you are deliberately looking for a MEAL that breaks the bank, lovefood.com also lists the most expensive restaurant in every state. Of course, SOME traveling will be necessary.

The Most Expensive Restaurant in Kentucky

In Kentucky, it's not unusual for folks (like me, for example) to plan an outing to Louisville BASED on a restaurant where they'd like to dine. Those are always fun trips. So once you've decided you're going to go for it and have dinner at Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse, tabbed as the Commonwealth's most expensive restaurant, you can figure out what else to do to accompany what must surely be an exquisite meal.

There's Also a Jeff Ruby's Location in Lexington

Yes, Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse in Louisville HAS been named Kentucky's most expensive restaurant. But it's not the only Jeff Ruby's location IN the Commonwealth. There's a relatively new one in Lexington. It opened in 2019. LEX18-Lexington sort of previewed the opening four years ago by touring the ORIGINAL location in Cincinnati.

But what about those prices?

Big-Ticket Menu Items at Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse

As you might have guessed, it's the steak menu that will make your wallet scream, with a 6-oz Wagyu filet mignon being THE big-ticket menu item here.

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And the non-steak menu is no slouch.

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The Most Expensive Restaurant in Indiana

There are a LOT of televised sports events that happen in Indianapolis, so I'm pretty familiar with Indiana's most expensive restaurant, even if I've never visited. If the Colts are playing or there are NCAA Tournament games in Indy, announcers and analysts almost always mentioning getting a steak at St. Elmo. Here's a little backstory:

While St. Elmo is known for its steaks--it IS a steakhouse, after all--it is also quite proud of its signature shrimp cocktail. Here's the owner preparing both. (WARNING: Your mouth will water.)

And if you're keeping score, the prices at St. Elmo, on average, are lower than what you'll find at Jeff Ruby's.

If you're NOT keeping score and you want to really splurge just this once, enjoy your trip or trips to the priciest restaurants--and steakhouses--in Kentucky and Indiana. (And if you hit up St. Elmo, bring me back a side of that King Crab Mac 'n' Cheese. Good Lord.)

Kentucky Restaurants and Bars Featured on National Television

Kentucky has been well-represented on a number of television series, and not just on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Check out the list:

Gallery Credit: Dave Spencer

50 Most Popular Chain Restaurants in America

YouGov investigated the most popular dining brands in the country, and Stacker compiled the list to give readers context on the findings. Read on to look through America's vast and divergent variety of restaurants—maybe you'll even find a favorite or two.

Gallery Credit: Paul Feinstein

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