New restaurants coming to Lexington in 2022: Chicago beef, cro-nuts and vintage arcade
After a second year of COVID pandemic takeout, outdoor dining and inexplicable food shortages, Lexington diners are ready to move on.
So, what can we expect in 2022 for the local food scene?
A lot. Plenty of new restaurants are expected to open and join the 45 that opened last year. Will they all make it or will they join the 20 that closed in 2021? Of course nobody knows.
After all, the average lifespan of a restaurant is only about five years. So if you see something you like, get it while it’s hot.
New restaurants opening in Lexington
Here is a list of 20 restaurant and bar openings to watch for in 2022 in Lexington and Central Kentucky.
Andy’s Frozen Custard
1200 S. Broadway. Andy’s was supposed to open in the summer of 2021 but zoning issues delayed construction. Now the planned restaurant appears to be on track and it should open in the spring with a menu of smashed burgers, skinny fries and thick custardy treats.
Biscuit Belly
652 E. Main St. Renovations have begun on the old A&W (and formerly a Long John Silver’s) building on East Main and Biscuit Belly is expected to open soon. Two more Lexington locations are expected to open in 2022 as well, as the company plans to add lots of locations. The menu includes mammoth biscuits stuffed with all manner of things, from fried eggs to fried chicken. And don’t forget the mimosas and bloody Marys.
Buc-ee’s
Duncannon Lane at I-75 in Richmond. Buc-ee’s, the Texas-based convenience store giant, is opening in Richmond in the summer of 2022 with the world’s cleanest bathrooms and 120 gas pumps. Even if you’re not traveling, you might want to take a trip to Richmond just for the Buc-ee’s experience which includes Beaver Nuggets caramel popcorn, Texas brisket breakfast tacos, homemade fudge and thousands more snack options in the 53,300-square-foot store.
Buzzed Bull Creamery
105 Summit at Fritz Farm, is finally expected to open in March 2022 after some delays. The restaurant features ice cream flash-frozen with liquid nitrogen, often including shots of alcohol for extra buzz for the grown-ups. Each order is made right before your eyes in a puff of smoke in under.
Burnaco’s
561 S. Broadway. Burnaco’s, a Tex-Mex concept, is opening in Lexington off Broadway in January/February. It’s the same restaurant that will be opening in Cynthiana’s expanded Maiden City Brewery. The new Cynthiana brewery and a Paris taproom are expected to open this year as well.
Chick-fil-A, Southside
Harrodsburg Road at Old Higbee Mill. Work has begun on yet another Chick-fil-A in Lexington, this time on the growing south side of town. Details are scarce but the restaurant is expected to open in 2022, according to a sign at the site.
Drake’s
1735 Sharkey Way. Lexington restaurant chain Bluegrass Hospitality Group is putting a third Lexington Drake’s on the booming west side of town in Townley Center. The new restaurant is expected to open in late summer. Drake’s features a menu of smashed burgers, sandwiches, craft cocktails and Aqua Sushi.
Fatburger
1452 W. Lexington Ave. in Winchester. This Beverly Hills-based burger chain is bringing its first Kentucky location to a spot at the foothills of the Appalachias, and bringing its Buffalo’s Express chicken franchise too. Both are expected to open in mid-2022. Billed as “The Last Great Hamburger Stand,” Fatburger will offer cooked and made to order burgers and fries while Buffalo’s Express will focus on chicken wings and other shareables.
Frankie DeLuca’s
508 Lexington Rd. in Versailles. Racetrack announcer Frank Mirahmadi and Arkansas restaurant owner Anthony Valinoti are opening a specialty pizza place modeled on Valinoti’s Deluca’s Pizza in Hot Springs. Their pizzeria is expected to open in 2022 and offer what’s been dubbed some of the best pizza in the South. The dough is handmade and baked in a brick oven for phenomenal flavor.
Lady Remoulade
900 N. Broadway. From the chefs and crew formerly behind Roulay, the new restaurant will feature lots of Creole-Cajun foods and desserts. They are reviving the former Flag Fork Herb Farm location and hope to incorporate the gardens as a venue. Lady Remoulade is hoping to open in January, possible for even New Year’s Eve.
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Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken
1487 Boardwalk. The chicken franchise came back to Lexington in 2021 when the location off of Richmond Road reopened. Franchisee Chuck Newnham has said he expects to reopen the Boardwalk location too. Stay tuned.
Local Taco Lexington
1916 Pavilion Way. It’s the second location for the eclectic Tex-Mex restaurant and will have about 250 seats plus a large patio. The Hamburg location of Local Taco Lexington is opening in early 2022 in the former TGI Friday’s location. Owner Kevin Lewis said that the Limestone location of Local Taco Lexington near the University of Kentucky campus will be staying open.
Mama Tequila
367 W. Short St. This is a new concept from the family that owns the popular El Rancho Tapatio and will feature some of that restaurant’s items. It’s going in the old Shakespeare & Co. space and will have a full bar. Look for it early in January, possibly in time for New Year’s Eve.
Parlor Doughnuts
630 Euclid Ave. This new-to-Kentucky doughnut chain is bringing its croissant-style “cronuts” with specialty toppings to Lexington. The location next to Kroger on Euclid Avenue is expected to open early in 2022. Parlor Doughnuts menu offers two dozen specialty flavors such as Strawberry Shortcake, Maple Bacon and Bourbon Caramel. Keto, gluten-friendly and vegan versions are available, as well as special dog doughnuts. The menu also includes specialty coffees, juice, seasonal kombucha, acai bowls and breakfast items including breakfast tacos. Then there are the Doughboy Milkshakes in the same flavors as their specialty doughnuts. The menu also includes specialty coffees, juice, seasonal kombucha, acai bowls and breakfast items including breakfast tacos.
Ramsey’s Diner
2751 Leestown Rd. Rob Ramsey plans to put the fifth location of his popular local restaurant in a new development, The Villages at Great Acres, coming to the west side of town. The new development between Masterson Station Drive and Citation Boulevard will include apartments, townhomes and commercial buildings along Leestown. Ramsey’s was the first commercial tenant.
Sawyer’s
140 W. Main St. The old Sawyer’s in Triangle Center closed in May but owner Jim Sawyer has found a new home in City Center, next to Italx, and plans to bring back his famous chili and burgers, with the toppings bar so you can fix it how you like. Hopes to open in late February/early March.
Scooter’s Coffee
1988 Bypass Rd. in Winchester. This new coffee chain is bringing its drive-thru kiosks to Central Kentucky. Although the Winchester location may be the first, expect more to come. The menu includes traditional coffee drinks as well as espresso, iced coffee, frozen coffee drinks and teas. It also has a section of eat-on-the-go friendly foods like breakfast sandwiches and burritos, muffins and other pastries.
South of Wrigley
472 Southland Dr. This restaurant will serve Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian hot beef sandwiches, as well as porchetta. Owner chef Randal Jacobs will have a small seating area and plans to do lots of takeout and catering. South of Wrigley is expected to open early in 2022.
Tilty Bob’s
319 Cedar St. From the owners of Recbar in Louisville, Tilty Bob’s will be an arcade bar with pinball and video games as well as a restaurant that serves burgers, beer and more. It’s opening in the former JDI Grill/Alexander Bullitt’s/Napa Prime location in early 2022.
Whiskey Bear
3195 Beaumont Center Circle. Whiskey Bear left The Summit and is moving to Beaumont, where the bar is expanding to add Addie’s Stone-Fired Pizza, a specialty restaurant, under the same roof. The new Whiskey Bear is expected to open in early 2022.
This story was originally published December 30, 2021 at 7:50 AM.
