Lexington comes together with list of Black-owned restaurants you can help support
As hundreds of protesters rally nightly in downtown Lexington to protest the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and others at the hands of police, some have been looking for another way to support the Black community.
Members of the Herald-Leader’s Facebook group, Lexington Food & Dining News and Sharing, began asking for suggestions for Black-owned restaurants to support.
At least two organizations had lists ready — Lextropoplis, an e-magazine owned and published by Debora Logan-Lawson, and The Sit-In, a web site created by Martina Barksdale. An independent local Instagram blog @thingstodoinLexingtonky also shared a list inspired in part by The Sit-in’s version and soon others were chiming in with more names on Instagram.
Various compilations of Black-owned restaurants began to go viral, circulating among foodies in Central Kentucky, generating business along the way.
Logan-Lawson, who started her database five years ago, said that driving change is important, and she’s seen an increase in traffic in the last two weeks to her site as well as calls to her family’s construction business, which is listed with the Black-owned businesses.
“I know, being a Black entrepreneur myself, there are a lot of businesses not known about. Maybe in our community, but not as a whole,” she said. “In recently weeks there’s been an overwhelming interest in Black-owned businesses.”
The effort, she said, “is working. It’s just sad that we have to be where we are for this to happen.”
Martina Barksdale, who started The Sit-In Productions with a food blog that has grown into a talk show, said highlighting marginalized communities in Lexington is vital. She’s working to update her lists constantly to add more black-owned and operated businesses and restaurants and drive dollars to them.
“I’ve had businesses reach out and thank me because they’ve seen an increase in business,” Barksdale said. “I think it’s important at this time. A lot of people are looking for ways to support. Not everyone is on the front lines protesting. A great way to support your Black and brown brothers and sisters is to uplift them financially, especially with so many restaurants still dealing with the pandemic. I think this a great way to get involved.”
Black-owned restaurants in Lexington
Here is the list compiled by The Sit-In, with a few crowd-sourced additions. All of these Central Kentucky restaurants, bars, food trucks and caterers are owned or partially owned by black men and women; all are either open now or opening or reopening soon.
Please email jpatton1@herald-leader.com to submit additional restaurants for consideration.
Ace’s Place
Ace’s Place is a food truck that specializes in battered fish and chicken wings, banana peppers, fried Oreos, hot dogs, burgers, fries, funnel cakes and more. 859-684-0999
Alfalfa’s
141 East Main Street, alfalfarestaurant.com. Tiffany and Wali Yusef El-Amin recently purchased this longtime restaurant in downtown Lexington and plan to reopen it by July, with a menu focused on seasonal local produce and farm-raised meats. They hope to re-establish Alfalfa as a community hub for Lexington.
BakEd
Pop-up, facebook.com/bakEd.sweetslex/, 859-213-9756. This specialized bakery is part of the Black Vegan Collective, along with Taco Queen Catering and Woke Junk Food Vegan. The bakery specializes in vegan treats and has gluten-free options as well. You can place an order for items such as vegan “Twinkies,” cinnamon rolls, cake and more and arrange for delivery.
Bazaar Eatery
102 West Vine Street, restaurantji.com/ky/lexington/bazaar-eatery-/, 859-368-0132. Chefs Seneca Holden and Mitch Boggs opened Gringos Food Truck before opening inside Ethereal Brewing Public House. The menu includes vegan and meat burritos and tacos and other options.
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Blue Skillet
213 East Seventh Street, facebook.com/Blue-Skillet-1617471611801476/, 859-537-9257. This restaurant specializes in soul food and southern specialties.
Brother’s Bar & Grill
909 Winchester Rd.; facebook.com/BrosBarandGrill, 859-303-4020. Known for their late hours on the weekends — they close at 3 a.m. on Sunday morning — popular items include wings and quesadillas. Marinated skirt steak, chicken or pork are options in the quesadillas.
Chef Doug’s Gourmet Foods
chefdougsgourmetfoods.com, 859-585-1464. Chef Doug Johannes mixes his New Wave Caribbean cuisine with traditions from the Bluegrass state. Johannes’ business includes personal catering services, take-home products and a food truck known as the Snack Shack.
Creaux
310 West Short Street, creauxlex.com, 859-469-8960. Co-owned by Dougie and Ieasha Allen and Stephen Scaldaferri, Creaux is a Creole bar and restaurant, open Thursday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to midnight, with live music early and a DJ late on Friday and Saturday. The cocktail menu features classic New Orleans-style drinks as well as other classics and food to go with it: blue cheese lobster beignets, shrimp and grit cakes, southern style hotlink basket, chicken & sausage gumbo and more.
Daughter’s Southern
Food truck/caterer, Facebook.com/DaughtersSouthern/, 859-576-2804. Chef Chris Cain’s food truck sets up at locations including The Garage on Leestown Road and local breweries, serving burgers, sandwiches, brunch items including chicken and waffle skewers and Bluegrass Egg-in-A-Hole.
Eiffel Pizza
3449 Buckhorn Drive Suite, B, facebook.com/Eiffel-Pizza, 859-523-8300. Eiffel Pizza is a local pizza restaurant in Lexington. Its menu features vegetarian options as well as seafood pizzas and calzones.
From the Heart Catering
962 Delaware Avenue, facebook.com/pg/From-the-Heart-Catering, 859-552-4451. Angelina Drake founded From the Heart Catering three years ago. Her menu specializes in health food made with a soul food inspiration.
Genesis Coffee House & Eatery
1403 North Forbes Road Suite 130, Facebook.com/genesiscoffeehouse/ Tabet Wilson plans to open this new coffee shop in July in the Meadowthorpe area serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner sandwiches, pastries and sweets, soups and, of course, coffee and specialty drinks.
Graze
111 Woodland Ave, Lexington KY, 40504, grazeky.com, 859-309-2490. Graze began in Winchester with 13 seats in a former post office. Now, Graze is operating out of its current home in The Woodlands, serving a menu of seasonal farm produce and favorites like pork tenderloin, Carolina fries, buttermilk brined fried chicken and scallops, with a covered patio for summer and a cozy fireplace for winter.
Grimes’s Fast Food Restaurant
4248 Saron Suite and 325 Roosevelt Blvd, grimessfastfood.com, 859-255-0445 for Roosevelt and 859-523-8222 for Saron Drive. This is one of several restaurants in Lexington that really knocks fried chicken out of the park. You can get hot & spicy or regular chicken, fish, barbecue and sides to complete the plate.
Indi’s
670 North Broadway, facebook.com/pg/Indis, 859-233-7985. Indi’s specializes in fried chicken, perfectly spiced. You can get “just chicken” or go for barbecue chicken, ribs and tips, seafood and chicken strips. Sides include fried apples, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, rice, green beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, cole slaw, smoked baked beans, mashed potatoes and mixed greens and more.
The Jerk Lex
Food truck and caterer; jerkjerkjerk.weebly.com. This Caribbean-World Fusion food truck has been serving a menu Jamaican recipes. The specialty is chicken, as in their Guerilla Fries, fried and seasoned and dusted with truffle, then covered with smoked jerk chicken breast and doused in jerk dry spice and mild or hot jerk sauce, and covered with Parmesan cheese sauce. Vegetarian options can be added. Order online.
Josanne’s Homestyle Kitchen
3449 Buckhorn Drive, facebook.com/JosannesHomestyleSoulKitchen/, 859-245-0110. Josanne’s, owned by Tamara Hall and Robert Webb, is a black-owned, veteran-owned and woman-owned restaurant that features soul food and Southern cooking, made from scratch and reasonably priced. Besides classics like pork chops and catfish, you can get fried shrimp and baked potatoes with your choice of toppings.
Khadirah’s Cupcakes and Bark
Custom baker, instagram.com/khadirahscupcakes_/ Baker Khadirah Muhammad, 18, has been making and selling her custom creations since she was 12. Her recipe for success is simple: fabulous cupcakes at a terrific price. There are more than three dozen flavors, including Red Velvet and Blueberry Lemon & Lime for $24 for a dozen. She also has bark flavors, with candy or fruit. 859-382-2342 to order.
Kismet (at The Burl)
375 Thompson Road, Facebook.com/KismetKY/, 859-447-8166. Husband and wife chefs Philip Cronin and Tonya Mays-Cronin are opening their Kismet in The Burl Arcade, with a tight menu that has built up fans at pop-up events over the last two years. The Holy ‘Mole’ spiced guacamole with pecans is vegan, and their spicy Dan Dan Noodles can be made vegetarian with tofu or stick with ground pork. Round your meal out with steam buns, fries and sweet potato doughnuts. Open Wednesday through Sunday 5 to 11 p.m.
Louisiana Passion Catering
3021 Sewanee Ln, facebook.com/Louisiana-Passion-258371604188362/. Caterer Stephen Vaughn specializes in Creole-Cajun seafood dishes like jambalaya, étouffée and gumbo. To order for an event, call 337-781-9102.
Mama Dee’s Coney Island
340 East New Circle Rd, facebook.com/mamadeesconeyislandlexington, 859-523-1001. All those craving a taste of Detroit’s Coney Island should check out Mama Dee’s for American staples like coneys, chili cheese fries, corned beef, club sandwiches and more. Open 1-7 p.m.
Mi Mi’s Southern Style Cooking
126 East New Circle Rd, mimissouthernstylecooking.com, 859-523-0490. Visit Mi Mi’s for a taste of southern comfort food at its finest. You can order from their menu of sandwiches, salads, chicken dinners and southern sides from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Currently only taking phone orders. .
Mr. Krab’s Beans & BBQ
417 Georgetown St, Unit 130. facebook.com/mrkrabs.beansbbq, 859-202-9204. Known for their ribs and smoked wings, Mr. Krab’s offers classic barbecue as well as fried fish, seafood boil, burgers, Philly steaks and much more. Customers can now dine-in in addition to ordering delivery or curbside pick-up.
Nine Lives Mobile Bar
Mobile bar; facebook.com/ninelivesbar9/, 859-270-9901. Tyler Warren, owner of Nine Lives Mobile Bar, operates her bartending business from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. For adults, she offers pouches, cocktail popsicles, half-gallon and gallon jugs, and for kids and teenagers, specialty drinks. Warren tends bar for events, from weddings to birthday parties.
Not Your Ordinary Vegan
1313 North Limestone Street, Facebook.com/notyourordinaryvegan1/. This Northside vegan cafe tucked in behind a church is reopening June 18 with burgers and much more, including a new hot sauce, raspberry chili pepper.
Sav’s
630 E Main St, savslex.weebly.com, 859-785-1635. This restaurant and gourmet Sav’s Chill ice cream place is offering a limited menu in light of COVID-19, but many of their famous African dishes including fufu, peanut bowls, keke salads and pints are available. Feeling adventurous? Try the hot banana ice cream from Sav’s Chill featuring Sav’s Piment habanero sauce. Takeout, delivery and limited dining in Monday to Saturday from 4-8:30 p.m.
Seafood Lady
833 Georgetown Street, seafoodlady502.com, 859-368-9060. Louisville chef Nichelle Thurston has brought her Florida-style seafood boil to Lexington. Operating as carry out only in Lexington right now, Seafood Lady has pans and platters of fresh spicy seafood cooked to order from a menu available online.
The Soda Pop Shop
289 South Limestone St, facebook.com/Thesodapopshop, 859-469-9006. Visit The Soda Pop Shop for a sweet twist on classic coffee shop offerings. The restaurant serves dozens of international sodas, ice cream floats made with Sav’s Chill ice cream and more. Open 1 to 8:30 p.m.
Sowful Blessings
1088 Nandino Boulevard, sowfulblessings.com, 859-474-5575. This urban farm and company combines Central Kentucky spices and herbs into flavorful blends that make food both healthy and tasty. Customers can order seasonings from Lemon Pepper to Minted Tea online.
Stings Lounge
123 West Main Street, stingslounge.com This elegant bar in an historic building downtown will be reopening later this month. Owner DeBryant Beatty revamped the space with new lighting and sound before it opened in early March; now he’s added a special air filtering system to keep patrons safe.
Taco Queen Catering
Caterer, facebook.com/TacoQueenCatering/, 463-203-3497. Another member of the Black Vegan Collective, Taco Queen is based in Richmond and prepares a plant-based menu that can be delivered.
Winburn Cafe
1110 Winburn Drive, facebook.com/Winburn-Cafe-888369474585330/, 859-797-4394. Owner and cook James Hudson offers fast food, specializing in burgers. Hours may vary.
Woke Junk Food Vegan
Pop-up catering, facebook.com/wokejunkfoodvegan/, 859-552-2444. Chef Anetra Polk prepares vegan meals, soups, sides, dips and cold salads. She’s also working with FoodChain to provide meals for the needy through Nourish Lexington.
This story was originally published June 12, 2020 at 4:02 PM.
