Popular Lexington bar, burger restaurant has been a ‘playground for adults’ for 40 years
While most of Lexington’s landscape has transformed around it, one local gathering place has stood the test of time in the same location for four decades — and counting.
Rose & Jim’s Bar And Grill, which takes its name from original owners Jimmie C. and Rosetta Bayes, opened on a rundown motel property along US 25 (now Georgetown Road) just south of the Fayette-Scott county line in 1985, albeit under a different name than now.
“At first (the restaurant) wasn’t what my mom envisioned, so she took a couple years hiatus and rested up at home,” says daughter Jimalou Bayes, who’s run the restaurant and 12 motel rooms out back since 2007. “During that time my dad was there working and cleaning it up, so much so that she got back involved again a couple years later with top billing on the name. In those early days without her it was known as ‘Little Jim’s,’ but when she came back it became ‘Rose & Jim’s’ and has been that way ever since.”
With Jimalou now at the helm, the cash only, 21 and older restaurant and bar has remained as revered as ever by customers both new and old. The popular spot has been voted Best Bar and Best Bourbon Selection in Lexington multiple times in recent years. That recognition and its reputation for good burgers served it well when it was forced to temporarily shut down during the pandemic.
“During COVID when we closed indoors for 72 days, we set up a drive-thru that wound around the motel rooms and back with people wanting to grab a burger,” says Bayes. “We had to think of something to reinvent ourselves at that moment, and our customers went above and beyond in their support, just like they’ve been doing for 40 years now.”
“It’s the best burger in town, bar none,” said Rose & Jim’s regular David Clark. “You can get good food at a lot of places, but the community of people you get to see and interact with here is what makes it so special. It reminds me of the bar from “Cheers” ‘where everybody knows your name.’”
What’s on the menu at Rose & Jim’s?
According to Bayes, its handcrafted burgers come in four variations — a traditional hamburger or cheeseburger, a bacon burger and a beer cheese bacon burger utilizing Kentucky Eagle’s MooShine beer cheese. Other popular menu items include specials like chicken salad, roast beef sliders and potato soup along with a taco salad that Jimalou’s parents initially concocted as the eatery’s first special before eventually putting it on the menu as a regular dish. The turkey and Swiss sandwich (served hot or cold) that I tried during my visit there was also a smash hit.
In addition to its award winning burgers, Rose & Jim’s is also an entertainment hub where patrons can listen to live music or partake in activities such as karaoke, corn hole, Jenga, pool and more. An outdoor patio deck equipped with fire pits alongside the building and an asphalt slab out front lined with chairs and overhead lighting also make it an unique outdoor gathering spot on the outskirt of Lexington and Georgetown.
“We think of ourselves as a playground for adults where they can leave the craziness of life at the front door, grab a bite and a drink, listen to music, play cornhole or Jenga, catch up with friends and just have fun,” says Bayes.
But Bayes says she has no intention of handing down the business to the next generation in the family.
“If anything happens to me, Rose & Jim’s is likely finished,” says Bayes. “(My sons) are both good at what they do, but this job comes with a lot of sacrifices that I don’t necessarily want to pass onto them. I’m blessed to have them here with me, but I’d love for them to move on with their lives and chase their own dreams once that time comes.”
Rose & Jim’s Bar And Grill
Where: 2461 Georgetown Road #13
Hours: 3-11 p.m. Sunday-Monday, closed Tuesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday (set to change again come spring)
Online: RoseAndJimsBar.com
This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 5:00 AM.