First look at the new Lexington Minton’s: Appetizers, cake, fries and all your favorites
Minton’s, a Lexington restaurant known for its brunches and lunches with vegetarian and vegan options, has opened in a new location.
Formerly on North Limestone, Minton’s has moved onto National Avenue and Walton, just off Winchester Road. The spot was formerly home to the El Cid Mexican restaurant, and before that Locals.
Owner and chef Ashley Minton said she’s been excited about sharing the new space with her longtime regulars when it opens for regular hours on Feb. 15.
“We’ve been open for 12 years and National just kind of fell in our lap,” she said. She said they wanted more space but didn’t want to lose the character of the tiny spot at 760 N. Limestone.
“We walked in, and we just fell in love with this place. The location and the vibe and everything just felt like us,” she said. “We’ve spruced it up a lot. It should feel like a new space.”
Her brother, Jon Vannoy, built new banquette seating, they had all new quartz-topped tables made from a Counter Culture up the road on National, refinished the bar, and repainted everything inside and some outside, with more coming as weather allows.
The spot now has an airy and sunlight-filled ambiance, a far cry from the tiny hole-in-the-wall vibe at the original location. The new space is much larger and will give her more — triple the previous indoor seating — with room for more outside and even more upstairs in warmer weather.
Minton said the new version will have full table service rather than counter ordering, and a slightly different menu.
But customer favorites like the Elvis Pancakes (peanut butter pancakes topped with bananas foster sauce and candied cayenne bacon) aren’t going anywhere, she said.
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New things will be coming though: appetizers, including lentil dahl empanadas and kaarage, a Japanese fried chicken, served with waffles that drew raves from a “friends and family” preview.
“That’s really become the thing we love and crave,” Minton said. “We always like to do international flavors mixed in with Southern cooking.”
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And if you’ve been a Minton’s fan since the beginning 12 years ago, you might remember her desserts. Check out the white case by the bar — that’s where desserts will be available by the slice, including Nick’s Birthday Cake (named for brother Nick Vannoy, the restaurant’s general manager), a banana cake filled with bourbon caramel, cream cheese icing and toasted coconut, $9. Also on the menu are chocolate peanut butter cake, $9, and key lime pie, $8.
You will also be able to get whole cakes.
Minton’s has applied for a full bar license, so cocktails and beer will be coming soon, Minton said. So mimosas are on the way.
For now, Minton’s will keep focusing on breakfast, lunch and brunch with a few special occasions such as the prix fixe dinner available for Valentine’s Day. Minton said they might expand to add dinner hours eventually.
She also will continue to offer catering, including take-home meals at the holidays. And carryout will be available at the restaurant as well.
Minton’s
Where: 701 National Ave.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Monday.
Online: Mintonsat760.com
This story was originally published February 13, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
