Takeout dining guide: Lexington seafood restaurants, markets for curbside or delivery

Even in landlocked Kentucky, the desire for fresh seafood is ever present.

Here in Lexington, there are any number of ways to satisfy that desire — from chains which offer drive-through (Long John Silver’s and Captain D’s) to (in normal times) dine-in spots such as Red Lobster, Bonefish Grill and Storming Crab.

Still, in our guide we are focusing on locally owned restaurants. While one of Lexington’s favorite go-tos for seafood, The Ketch, has suspended operations until May 22, there are still plenty of places around town to cast your net for meals from the sea.

The places listed here have curbside pickup options and some even deliver but extra fees may apply.

For more options, on LexGoEat.com check out our takeout dining guide featuring about 200 Lexington restaurants and our family meals takeout guide.

Lexington Seafood Company

This Chevy Chase area spot is a popular Lexington fish and seafood market that has been around for 13 years.

Because of the pandemic they are not offering any cooked dishes, but you can still pick up such items as organic salmon, swordfish, sea bass, tuna, scallops and Littleneck clams.

At the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak owner Michael Yessin said his sales were down. “Since then with people having to stay at home they’ve started doing a whole lot more cooking at home and my numbers have come back and amazingly, probably about 25 percent of my customers have been people I’ve never seen before.”

Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. As it operates the same as a grocery store, a mask is required for shopping. facebook.com/lexingtonseafood

Smithtown Seafood

Ouita Michel’s popular spot in the West Sixth Brewery uses only sustainably caught seafood and fish in dishes honoring both southern specialties — oyster and shrimp po’ boys like they make them in New Orleans and northern ones — and New England-style like Nor’easter chowder, a hearty concoction of clams, potatoes, cream, bacon and herbs.

On the weekends they offer fish of the day specials. Past specials include blackened bay scallops on crawfish andouille jambalaya topped with creole crispy onions and fresh pulpo (octopus) ceviche with fried tortilla chips from local restaurant Tortilleria y Taqueria RAMIREZ.

The Summit at Fritz Farm location is closed and may not open right away on May 22 when Kentucky restaurants can open their dining rooms to customers. Michel said she plans on reopening her family of restaurants to dining in stages.

The West Sixth location is open for curbside pick-up Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. smithtownseafood.com

Bayou Bluegrass Catering

Bayou Bluegrass, known for its Mardi Gras crawfish boils and more, is now doing a Cajun feast on Fridays for carryout dining.

While their menu varies, you can usually get crawfish boil and all the fixings. Place orders online for pickup at the location on South Broadway. Sometimes they mix it up with a Louisiana-style fish fry too. bayoubluegrass.com

Proud Mary BBQ

Their name may say BBQ but they are also known for their seafood boils. Proud Mary BBQ has crab legs, crawfish and shrimp for boiled platters. You can get three pounds of boiled crawfish with corn and potatoes for $35, five pounds for $55 and 10 pounds for $100.

Grilled salmon is also an option, along with much more. Order online or by phone, for pick up Friday and Saturday for family style dinners.

They are open for curbside takeout Friday 4 p.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday noon-9 p.m. and Sunday noon- 8 p.m. proudmarybbq.com

Shaking Seafood & Wings

If you like your seafood boiled Cajun-style with lots of seasoning and served in a bag, this is the place.

Just choose your catch (shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels, clams or crawfish); choose your flavor — from mild garlic butter to the not-so-mild original Cajun, and then customize the level of spiciness you want. There, you have it — your own personalized seafood boil.

Open for take-out Tuesday through Sunday 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. They also offer delivery. facebook.com/Shakingseafoodandwingslexingtonky

Charlie’s Seafood & Carryout

This unpretentious spot on Winchester Road has inexpensive cooked-to-order seafood platters and sandwiches. The fried fish sandwich might be the best in town and the filet is so large the bun can’t handle it.

They also sell fresh and frozen seafood.

Available for pick-up or delivery through Door Dash. Hours are Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. facebook.com/Charlies-Seafood-Carry-Out-Restaurant-126514477188

Gumbo Ya-Ya

With two locations (Broadway and Brannon’s Crossing), this place is devoted to Louisiana-style seafood dishes.

While each location has separate menus, both offer gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice and Maque Choux, a traditional Cajun dish similar to succotash. These can be ordered individually or as a family meal serving 8 to 10 people for $40.

Open for take-out Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at both locations. gumboyayaky.com/

Jim’s Seafood & Steaks, Frankfort

You will have to make the 25-minute drive to the capital city for a take-out from this family-owned restaurant of three decades.

It will be worth the drive for their family dinner serving two to four people and priced at $13.99. Choose from Alaskan whitefish or southern-style catfish accompanied by a pint of coleslaw and eight hushpuppies. Solo diners can select from Jim’s full menu.

Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. jimseafood1.wixsite.com/jims-seafood

This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 11:29 AM.