New restaurant coming to Lexington’s Chevy Chase with comfort food, vintage bourbons

What happens when you hear all your life from restaurant-owning parents not to go into the business?

If you’re Dexter Murray, son of former Merrick Inn (and Murray’s and Banana’s Tavern) owners Jennifer and Bobby Murray, you do it anyway.

Which is why Murray and chef Cannon Applegate are opening The Obstinate Sons, a new bourbon bar and restaurant, in Chevy Chase Plaza on Feb. 3.

The name suits the pair “to a T,” Murray said. “In our years in the industry, we’ve been called obstinate over and over and I’ve been told since I was young to do anything but the restaurant industry and here I am.”

Although they worked together at Merrick Inn, where Applegate was in the kitchen and Murray manned the bar, this is their first restaurant together on their own.

And again Applegate will be in charge of the food and Murray will handle the bar.

What is on Obstinate Sons menu?

The menu leans into seasonal Southern specialties with Down-N-Gritty, a Creole spice shrimp over pimento cheese grits, Maryland crab cakes, deviled eggs and even chicken livers.

Entrees include the Tavern Burger of a brisket and short rib patty, a Petite File Mignon, Chicken Marsala, center-cut pork chop, shrimp gnocchi and Mamaw’s Stuffed Shells.

“I’ll do a comfort-fusion blend,” Applegate said. “Most of my experience is with comfort food, and I like throwing in some Asian flair and some Latin flair, and even some French. I try to play with as many things as I can and will use as many seasonal items as possible from the farmers’ market.”

Entrees will be priced in the $20-$30 range, he said.

The bar will have a special collection of vintage bourbons, said Murray. While he knows his way around new releases, Murray expertise is vintage.

He plans to offer selections from private sellers and possibly from his private stash. They also will have an extensive wine and champagne list as well as local beers.

Joining a mini Restaurant Row with Josie’s, Puccini’s and The Oasis

How did they come to open a restaurant next door to Josie’s, which the Murrays still own?

Serendipity. After the Murrays sold Merrick Inn in 2021 to One Holland Restaurant Group, Dexter Murray and Cannon Applegate both left. Eventually they both ended up working at Josie’s and last year they noticed the space opening up when Dana Kelly Oriental Rugs moved to Southland Drive.

The 48-seat new place in a mini Restaurant Row in Chevy Chase with Josie’s, Puccini’s and The Oasis seemed perfect.

“To be in Chevy Chase Place with a full parking seemed like a great opportunity,” Murray said. “And if I didn’t do it, someone else would.”

The Obstinate Sons

Where: 829 Chevy Chase Place

Hours: 4-11 p.m. daily, closed Monday

This story was originally published January 31, 2024 at 6:00 AM.

Janet Patton

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-379-5233

Janet Patton covers restaurants, bars, food and bourbon for the Herald-Leader. She is an award-winning business reporter who also has covered agriculture, gambling, horses and hemp. Support my work with a digital subscription