New restaurant from ‘Walking Dead’ star has burgers, meatloaf & an eye-opening Bloody Mary
Fans of “The Walking Dead” will want to run to a new restaurant opening on downtown Lexington’s Main Street that promises Southern-American plates.
LexGoEat had a sneak peek Tuesday ahead of the opening: The menu includes burgers, meatloaf, chicken pot pies, brisket and more.
There will be a full bar (check out the brunch cocktail menu for the Bloody Nicotero made with lychee floating eyeballs) but the restaurant is definitely family friendly despite some rather frightening connections.
Nic & Norman’s, from the team behind the post-apocalyptic zombie TV show, is opening Wednesday or Thursday evening at 135 W. Main St., previously the home of West Main Crafting. West Main Crafting closed in September 2021 after almost five years.
The owners of the new restaurant include “The Walking Dead” series star Norman Reedus, who plays Daryl Dixon, director and special effects artist Greg Nicotero, and Cynthiana native Robert Kirkman, the co-creator of the comic book series that the TV show is based on. In 2016, they opened the first Nic & Norman’s in Senoia, Ga., where the the show was filmed, and in 2020 opened a second location in Chattanooga, Tenn.
‘Walking Dead’ items
Fans will want to stop by the photo up front: It’s a montage of cast members in the style of the famous last shot in “The Shining.”
David Valentine, who operates the restaurant concept for the partners, said the photo is in every restaurant location now and fans often take photos in front of it.
But he’s clear: “This is not a zombie restaurant.” But there are lots of nods to the owners’ connections to the show, including a photo of Nicotero making up a character.
Other art on the walls includes photos of Nicotero with one of the Jaws sharks that he is restoring, Reedus with comedian Dave Chappelle and original art from Kirkman’s comic book.
Valentine said that fans are drawn to the restaurant but it isn’t a celebrity restaurant either, really. “The biggest compliment I can get is when someone says, ‘Loved the food, who owns the place?’” he said.
Nic & Norman’s menu
The menu includes gourmet burgers named for Reedus and Nicotero. Greg’s Pick is a patty made of ground chuck, short rib and brisket, topped with blackened seasoning, blue cheese, baby blend lettuce, caramelized onions and tomato ($15.)
Perhaps fittingly given aversion to flesh-eating zombies, Norman’s Pick is a vegetarian option: An Impossible patty topped with a fried egg and dressed with beets, avocado, spinach and soy ginger sauce ($16.) Both come with signature sidewinder fries.
Besides burgers, entrees include beef tender medallions, Nic-N-Chicken, Homestyle Meatloaf, Fried Chicken Pot Pie, Coca-Cola Braised Pork Shank and much more. Flatbreads, including pepperoni pizza, brisket barbecue, Buffalo chicken and more also are available as well as a variety of starters, soups and salads.
Nic & Norman’s will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, with brunch being served on Sunday soon. The 94-seat restaurant eventually plans to have live music on the stage in the evenings and sidewalk seating in warm weather.
Nic & Norman’s merchandise is for sale, including hats, T-shirts and hoodies and more.
Nic & Norman’s
Where: 135 W. Main St.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday eventually (For now, 4-10 p.m.)
Online: Nicandnormans.com
Phone: 859-303-7600
This story was originally published April 20, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
