faq
What does AZUR mean and where did it come from?
We took "azure" from the English dictionary and dropped the "e" to form AZUR. It means a purplish-blue or a blue sky. The restaurant has the color blue throughout the design. In fact, it was this color scheme that prompted us to name the restaurant - AZUR. We like to say that the restaurant named itself.
Why did AZUR use "restaurant & patio" in the name?
The "restaurant" part is fairly obvious. If one knew nothing about AZUR, they would be able to discern it was a restaurant from the full name. We then selected "patio" rather than bar or grill for two reasons: 1) AZUR wanted to be know for high end cuisine first and that we had a full service spirits center second and 2) Lexington was in the process of passing a city wide smoking band so we wanted our customers to know that we had a very large patio area. We believe that this was a first and there have been subsequent establishments that have adopted "patio" in their naming as well.
Why doesn't AZUR, a fine dining restaurant, use tablecloths?
Actually, it's part of the overall European concept which also includes using aluminum tables and chairs on the patio which are popular in Europe. We have noticed that many other restaurants have also gone sans the tablecloths in more recent years as a trend.
Where do the ideas for the themed Chef Series dinners originate?
The Chef Series dinners are derived from a variety of sources including the chefs, owners and customer suggestions. The goal is to showcase the culinary talents of our chefs as well as introduce more exotic foods and tastes. Our chefs really enjoy these events because it gives them an opportunity to show their creativity and do something more adventurous then we could normally present on the menu.
Why does AZUR serve margarine instead of butter?
AZUR does not serve margarine; however, we actually hear this question from time to time because we serve a pale unsalted butter. It's butter without artificial coloring or salt added.
Do celebrities frequent AZUR?
Though we respect the privacy of all our guests and have an unwritten policy not to exploit their visits by taking photographs or discussing, we can say that AZUR has served television personalities, government officials and billionaires. It's all about the food.
What's the most expensive ingredient that AZUR uses?
Currently, it would be the American freshwater caviar which is harvested from Paddlefish. It is a Kentucky Proud product. Meaning, it is harvested, processed and hand packed here in the state.
Who's the gentleman with the white hair and beard that seems to be there every time we visit AZUR?
That's Bernie! He is an owner as well as an ambassador to our guests. Bernie also insures that our food product meets our high standard on a daily basis. He is probably our toughest critic.
Does AZUR accommodate private parties?
Absolutely! We are able to host parties for up to 100 in the dining room. In addition during the warmer months, AZUR can reserve the upper patio for birthday parties, rehearsal dinners or cocktail parties.
Why was my favorite entree removed from the menu?
In order to maintain a progressive and original menu, we change our menus at least 5-6 times per year. Not only does this allow us to take advantage of seasonal ingredients, it also drives creativity and keeps the menu from becoming stagnated. AZUR promotes a fluid and adventurous menu.
Does AZUR have a private dining room?
The simple answer is no. AZUR's space is as small as a full liquor license will permit. In order to qualify with the ABC, you must have 100 seats. Then in order to accommodate the 100 seats, you must have 15 square feet per seat for the Fire Marshall or 1,500 square feet of dining space. AZUR has 1,500 square feet of dining space almost to the inch. Luckily, we have devised other clever methods to host private parties which have been well received in most cases.