Sneak peek at new Ramsey’s Diner: Double the size, a patio and drive-thru
Rob Ramsey has opened a lot of restaurants but it never gets old. Or easier, apparently.
Two days before opening, Ramsey was still overseeing last minute details such as shelves that were tilted a bit too much.
The newest Ramsey’s Diner, opening Wednesday just off Lexington’s Leestown Road, is the seventh version of his popular take on meat-and-three classic comfort food. Three locations (the original on Woodland and High, one on Bryan Station and the one on Tates Creek) have closed. This fourth location is the first on the west side of town.
“We’ve put together everything that we learned over the years,” Ramsey said. “Thirty years of things we wished we had.”
New Ramsey’s Diner has more room
There’s plenty of room to move around and lots off light.
The new restaurant is double the size of the location that closed on Tates Creek, at close to 5,500 square feet, Ramsey said. Including the patio, it can seat about 140, with additional bar seating.
There are plenty of touches, including the bar, that will remind longtime Ramsey’s diners of previous versions, such as the brightly painted ladder back chairs (these are new) and the scrubbed wooden tables.
Will the menu change at Ramsey’s new location?
The menu of meat-and threes, locally grown vegetable sides, burgers and sandwiches and breakfast anytime will stay the same, he said.
Missy’s Pies and grab-and-go items available as well as preserves and farm goods from the market will be available (as soon as the too-tilted shelves are fixed.)
You might recognize some faces too; Ramsey said that most of the staff from Tates Creek are coming over to the new location.
Drive-thru available at Ramsey’s new restaurant
This spot, which is in the newly built Leestown Road/Great Acres development near the intersection with Citation Boulevard, will have an improved drive-thru, better arranged for employees and for customers, he said.
Takeout orders have become an increased part of the restaurant’s business, Ramsey said.
“Before the pandemic, carry out was 8%,” he said. “Now it’s 28%.”
Ramsey’s Diner officially opens on Aug. 23, with the same hours as the locations at 151 W. Zandale, 3090 Helmsdale Dr. and 4391 Harrodsburg Rd.
Ramsey’s Diner
Where: 112 Lucille Dr.
Hours: Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Online: ramseysdiners.com
This story was originally published August 23, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
