COVID casualty: Downtown Lexington restaurant closes just after its one-year anniversary
Lexington has lost another locally owned restaurant to COVID.
Roulay Restaurant and Bar announced Monday on Facebook that the Cajun-Creole place has closed after a year.
Roulay opened on Short Street just before the coronavirus pandemic hit Kentucky in 2020, after a lengthy renovation of former law offices into a restaurant and bar. A rooftop bar area overlooking the street offered a chance for safer dining.
In the message on Facebook, Roulay said that the space may reopen as a bar.
“Opening a restaurant less than a month before a worldwide pandemic hit was certainly not what we expected, but we worked hard and persevered through to our one-year anniversary,” according to the announcement.
“Thank you to every person who carried out, came in or shared our food on social media. We are so thankful to our patrons and those who supported us,” Roulay said. “You have been very good to us Lexington, and it has been a pleasure to serve you, and cook for you.”
The restaurant was the brainchild of owner Nick Lagagsorn, who also owns Buddha Lounge, and chef Kelly Mackey, who had envisioned a downtown spot open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night barflies, with a menu of authentic Cajun and Creole favorites from turtle soup to beignets.
They built an audience first as Lady Remoulade Food Truck, serving traditional Louisiana dishes as well as Cajun-French fusion.
Ambitious in scope, the restaurant had to close to indoor dining last March when Gov. Andy Beshear ordered restaurants and bars shuttered because of the coronavirus pandemic. Along with other restaurants and bars, Roulay could only offer limited capacity and carryout for most of 2020 due to dining restrictions.
Roulay had hoped to become a part of a vibrant downtown dining district that includes longtime favorites like Dudley’s on Short as well as newer restaurants such as Zim’s Cafe. More new restaurants are scheduled to open in the area, including Agave & Rye, which will go into the spot vacated by Saul Good.
This story was originally published March 8, 2021 at 2:23 PM.
