Looking for family meals? Here’s an updated list of what Lexington restaurants offer

During the time of the coronavirus pandemic, beleaguered Lexington restaurants have had to get creative in order to stay open.

Many have turned to family meals. Often you can get an entree, sides, salads, breads and even desserts all in one order.

Some come ready to eat, others are take-and-bake options, and a few are even offering steaks or burgers you can grill yourself. Many places offer curbside service as a safe COVID option.

Menus often rotate, so you can get your family favorites or try something completely new.

So, from burgers and pizza to steaks and chicken, here is an updated list of the places offering family-style meals to go. They do the cooking; you do the eating.

Bear & the Butcher

815 Euclid Ave.; 859-469-9188; bearandthebutcher.com; The restaurant offers family meals for four for $50. You can choose your entrée (fried chicken, meatloaf or house-made sausage marinara rigatoni) as well as two sides (French fries, onion rings, roasted cauliflower, roasted asparagus, mac & cheese, fried green tomatoes).

Thompson Catering

121 Hud Rd. in Winchester; 859-745-2019; partyky.com; With fewer events to cater, Thompson in Winchester has pivoted to selling a prepared entree such as chicken and dumplings or lasagna weekly, as well as wholesale meats, beer cheese and other items. You can see what’s available on their Facebook page at facebook.com/partyky/, and preorder there, by email or by phone.

GirlsGirlsGirls Burritos

395 South Limestone; 859-285-6853; girlsgirlsgirlsburritos.com; These girls don’t mind being in the kitchen — at least on Tuesdays which is Taco Tuesday Family Night. For $30, you can get a feast for four — two 12-oz. proteins (either beef or bean for vegetarians), 16 tortillas, cheese, sour cream, red and green salsa, cilantro and red onion.

Wild Thyme Cooking

1060 Chinoe Rd.; 859-523-2665; wildthymecooking.com; Wild Thyme offers family meals every day except Sunday for four to six people. As the menu changes daily, you should check their facebook page or website for that day’s offering. Prices vary and you must order a day in advance for pickup or delivery ($14 charge in Fayette County.)

Holly Hill Inn

426 North Winter St. in Midway; 859-846-4732; hollyhillinn.com; Chef Ouita Michel and her staff are ready to brighten up your weekend with a family package for four for $60. Feast on Stone Cross Farm pork chops, baked Weisenberger Mill polenta with summer corn and half a blueberry pie from Midway Bakery. Order online by 3 p.m. the day of pickup and then pick up between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Weekends only.

Saul Good Restaurant and Pub

3801 Mall Rd. and 123 North Broadway; 859-273-4663 and 859-252-4663; saulgoodpub.com; This popular spot near Fayette Mall is still offering their family meals that feed four, with kid-friendly options such as PB&J sandwiches and pizza, and adult favorites such as chicken Parmesan and pimento chicken sandwiches. Prices vary.

Keene Dining and Events

5600 Harrodsburg Rd. in Nicholasville; 859-224-4653 ext. 4; Facebook.com/keenediningandevents/; As they are a scratch kitchen, they can do anything you want as long as you give them 48 hours’ notice. They can prepare meals for four to 10 people with prices ranging from $60 to $130.

Pasta Garage

962 Delaware Ave.; 859-309-9840; pastagarage.com; They continue to offer their frozen pasta meal kits — just put in the oven and bake. Choices include lasagna, four cheese ravioli and baked gnocchi. As servings are for two, it’s the perfect meal for a couple, or double up for the whole family. Prices begin at $18 and you must order by 4 p.m. for same-day delivery.

Darae and Friends Catering

3459 Buckhorn Plaza; 859-272-8003; daraeandfriends.com; Darae and Friends has a weekly menu of seasonal options ranging from a meal for two for $30 to meal for 10 for $150. You can also get “take it to the lake” packages as well as frozen and ready to bake items. Check their facebook page for meals such as ratatouille & fire roasted chicken or gazpacho & Mediterranean chicken salad.

Proud Mary BBQ

9079 Old Richmond Rd; 859-913-5611; proudmarybbq.com; Proud Mary has kept on rollin’ through the pandemic with its “Pick 9” family package that serves 5 to 6 for $49. You get six ounces of each of their menu items (pork, brisket, sausage, ribs, chicken, frog legs, catfish, shrimp and crawfish etouffee) as well as four sides.

Azur Restaurant & Patio

3070 Lakecrest Circle; 859-296-1007; azurrestaurant.com; Azur’s “Moondance Family Meals” serve four and range in price from $35 for the 8-piece bourbon fried chicken tenderloins to $120 for the 8-oz. filet mignon. All meals come with salad and bread, and most include sides as well.

Bella Notte

3715 Nicholasville Rd.; 859-245-1789; bellalexington.com The restaurant includes all of their menu items in a family package. You choose your entrée from such dishes as spaghetti marinara and seafood linguini. The meal, which serves four, also includes salad and is priced according to your choice of entrée.

Athenian Grill

313 South Ashland Ave. and 120 E. Main St.; 859-303-5048; atheniangrill.com They continue to offer their family lunch and dinner meals for four which feature gyro meat and salad or mixed grill and sides. Prices vary.

Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse

101 W. Vine St.; 859-554-7000; jeffruby.com/lexington; It may cost you a bit more to order from here, but make it a special occasion with one of their four family meal kits. Ranging in price from $135 to $155 depending on which steak you select, the kits include four steaks, two salads, two sides and a loaf of bread with their truffle butter.

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

321 E. Vine St.; 859-523-8008; gusfriedchicken.com/lexington-kentucky-location Gus’s has its $26 family package that feeds four to six people, and includes eight pieces of chicken, six jumbo tenders, two sauces, and a large coleslaw and macaroni and cheese (sides can be substituted).

The Southern Deli & Tavern

207 S. Limestone; 859-368-8807; thesoutherndeliandtavern.com Another spot which hasn’t changed its original offering. You can still get four burgers or sandwiches, four sides (potato salad, chips or fries) and four drinks for $40.

The Chop House

2640 Richmond Rd; 859-268-9555; thechophouse.com; This Richmond Road favorite is continuing its family meal packages for four ranging in price from $50 to $80 (depending on whether you choose Angus chopped steak or prime rib as your entrée). Salad and side are included.

Texas Roadhouse

3029 Richmond Rd. and 3030 Lakecrest Circle; 859-268-2507 and 859-296-0028; texasroadhouse.com; Their family packs are enough for four and include an entrée (five options), salad, sides, rolls and cinnamon butter. Prices vary depending on choice of entrée.

Old Vine Bistro

400 Old Vine St.; 859-523-4141; oldvinebistro.com; They offer three different family meals daily serving four to six people for $49. Examples of the three-course meals (which includes salad, one or two sides, bread and dessert) are peppercorn steak tips, chicken Parmesan, Fiesta chicken and Pasta Bolognese.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen

3604 Walden Dr.; 859-272-0891; cheddars.com; Cheddar’s has updated its family meal packages to include five options with the Chicken Tender Bundle being the most popular. Each meal serves four to six people and includes two sides and six honey butter croissants. Prices range from $24.99 to $44.99.

Joella’s Hot Chicken

101 Cochran Rd.; 859-269-9593; joellas.com; Joella’s four and eight person picnic packs ($37.99 and $69.99 respectively) include jumbo tenders, southern sides such as collard greens and mac and cheese, choice of two dipping sauces and eight pieces of bread.

Johnny Carino’s Italian

2333 Sir Barton Way; 859-264-1049; carinos.com; Their family platters feature, among others, their popular 16-layer lasagna. The platters serve up to four and range in price from $30 to $35, although they have half-price deals on Monday nights.

Chicken Salad Chick

254 E Brannon Rd., Nicholasville; 859-279-4793; chickensaladchick.com; Located in Brannon Crossing near the Fayette, Jessamine County line, their family offering is nothing to cluck at. You get two large Quick Chick containers (your choice of flavor) along with six bags of chips or any large side item, six croissants, six cookies and a gallon of tea or lemonade.

Ranada’s Kitchen

312 S Ashland Ave.; 859-687-1000; ranadaskitchen.com; The popular local chef opened a “multifaceted culinary adventure” in the Chevy Chase area recently. Family meals feed four to six, change weekly and include salad, bread and chef’s choice of dessert. Prices range from $35-$55 and some of the options include bacon wrapped pork tenderloin with southern jezebel sauce and bourbon trail fried chicken.

Gumbo Ya-Ya

1080 S Broadway (859-252-9292) and 294 E Brannon Rd., Nicholasville (859-245-9292); gumboyayaky.com; When you just have to have it hot and spicy the way they like it down on the bayou, this place offers a $40 meal for eight to 10 people. You can choose one entrée such as jambalaya, gumbo or red beans and rice for everyone, or you can split it between two entrees. Comes with a loaf of crusty bread great for dipping.

Stein’s By Addie’s

450 Southland Dr.; 859-309-9577; steinslex.com; Their take and bake meals include dishes such as chicken broccoli and rice or meatballs in mushroom gravy. They generally serve six to eight, but are also available in half portions. Prices vary.

Mr. Brews Taphouse

220 Ruccio Way suite 110; 859-219-1931; lexington.mrbrewstaphouse.com; Mr. Brews has kept its menu and prices the same. You can get four burgers and two baskets of their fries cut in house or the house-made chips for $36.

Taziki’s Mediterranean Café

117 Southland Dr.; 859-286-3082; tazikis.com; Taziki’s has dinners for four to 10 people which include an entrée (you choose your protein) and either rice or potatoes along with a salad. Prices vary.

Sedona Taphouse

3600 Palomar Centre Dr.; 859-368-0464; sedonataphouse.com; Sedona’s most popular family meal is the flat iron steak (enough for two) with two sides for $20. At that price, you can afford the $5 add-on for salad and cheesecake.

Chuy’s

3841 Nicholasville Centre Dr. (859-245-2489) and 1856 Alysheba Way (859) 587-3300); chuys.com; Chuy’s has four different kits for making your own tacos, enchiladas, fajitas or nachos. The kits include all the makings for these popular dishes along with refried beans and Mexican rice. Serves four to six people. Prices range from $17.50 to $50.

KSBar & Grille

1030 S Broadway; 859-554-6081; facebook.com/ksbarandgrille; For a casual evening at home, pick up one of their family meals: BBQ or burgers for four ($21); fish, chicken tenders or half chicken ($26) or ribs ($40). All include sides.

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse

3297 Nicholasville Rd.; 859-278-2887; bjsrestaurants.com; Their Family Feast, feeding four to six, and priced at $45, includes not just pizza and pasta but other specialty dishes as well. A salad comes with all meals.

The Stave

5711 McCracken Pike, Frankfort; 859-879-0101; thestavekentucky.com; It’s worth making the drive to Millville (between Versailles and Frankfort) for their family package of pulled pork and potato salad priced at $50 for four.

Sutton’s Restaurant

110 N Locust Hill Dr.; 859-268-2068; suttonsrestaurant.com; Back open and offering family meal packages for four, with six different options ranging in price from $35 to $70. If you’re really hungry or have a large family, you might opt for their old family recipe lasagna which serves up to 10.

Selma’s Catering and Events

720 Henry Clay Blvd.; 859-971-2763; selmascatering.com; Selma’s has family dinners that change weekly. Now they feature dishes such as pot roast, meatloaf and chicken tetrazzini, all include a salad and one side. Most serve six to eight and range in price from $40 to $60. Selma’s also has a grab-and-go section in the store with hot and cold options, such as olive nut spread and Benedictine.

Seasons Catering

333 N Ashland Ave.; 859-266-6661; seasonsevents.com; They offer meals with seven different entrees (for example chicken scallopini and beef lasagna) for four people ($60), six people ($90) and eight people ($120). They also offer box lunches for pick-up.

Campestre Mexican Bar & Grill

910 Beaumont Centre Parkway; 859-368-7779; campestre.com; This Mexican restaurant on the South side is launching family meal options in September. Check the Facebook page for menu details.

This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 6:00 AM.