Drake’s, LaRosa’s and yes, Taco Tico: 10 new places to eat in Lexington
The weather outside may be getting cold, but the Lexington restaurant scene continues to heat up with 10 new places opening.
▪ Drake’s at 1880 Pleasant Ridge Dr. in Hamburg is opening Dec. 9. It’s the latest restaurant from Bluegrass Hospitality Group and features the same menu as the location on Tates Creek. It’s part of a major expansion by BHG, which is opening its popular burger and brews concept in four more locations, including in Owensboro. BHG also is opening its first Malone’s steakhouse restaurant at the Paddock Shops in Louisville next year.
▪Roulay Restaurant and Bar, 107 West Short Street, will be opening downtown by the end of the year. Chef Kelly Mackey has built a following catering from her Lady Remoulade food truck and now will open a Cajun and Creole restaurant and bar in a historic building on Lexington’s booming Short Street dining district. Upstairs will be a rooftop patio with a view of Lexington’s skyline.
▪Jump Start, 535 South Upper St., opened in November in Center Court. Just like the Jump Start at the Whitaker Family YMCA, this cafe serves plant-based smoothies, vitality bowls, sandwiches and soups. The cafe replaced Jamba Juice, which closed.
▪ Frank’s Donuts, 549 East Third, is opening its Lexington location Dec. 6 after more than a year of working on the building. The shop offers a dozen doughnuts — glazed, chocolate covered, maple covered, cake — for $7 a dozen.
▪ Taco Tico, 3110 Pimlico Parkway, is expected to open the week of Dec. 16. This will be the second location in Lexington of this new/old favorite taco joint. Now owned by the Greer Companies, the chain is focused on bringing the original taste of tacos, enchiladas, burritos and more Mexican staples to fans all over town.
▪ LaRosa’s Pizzeria, 115 Southland Dr., opens Dec. 16. It’s a carry out/delivery only location that takes orders online or by calling 888.LAROSAS. The entire menu of pizza, pastas, sandwiches and salads is available. This location will deliver to UK and surrounding areas.
▪Backroads Bakery, 109 West Sixth St., is hoping to open in mid-December. It’s going into the former Beach House Caribbean Cafe spot, with a menu of cheesecakes, large and small. Owners and sisters Ruth and Katie Ralph have been selling cheesecakes wholesale out of the Delaware Avenue commercial kitchen incubator at Pasta Garage. Now they are ready for their own place and plan to add a cafe as well.
▪ East End Tap & Table, 333 East Main Street, opened in late November. The restaurant has an eclectic international menu with Thai, Latin and comfort food. And, yes, UK women’s basketball coach Matthew Mitchell is a partner.
▪ Sav’s Restaurant, which closed on Limestone in the summer, is opening Dec. 8 in a new spot at 630 East Main Street in December. The restaurant still serves West African cuisine, with an expanded menu. Owner Mamadou Savane also will sell ice cream from Sav’s Chill too.
▪ BurgerFi, 1816 Alysheba Way. This burger chain is opening its third location in Lexington in a spot once occupied by BackYard Burgers. The gourmet burger spot is expected to open before the end of the year and will have new chicken tenders as well as the Beyond Burger, a 100 percent plant-based burger. Besides specialty burgers (check out the Breakfast All Day Burger), BurgerFi also has shakes and custards.
This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Drake’s, LaRosa’s and yes, Taco Tico: 10 new places to eat in Lexington."
