Lexington Mardi Gras guide: Where to find crawfish, jambalaya, beignets, King Cake
Mardi Gras is almost here, and you need Cajun food. We’re talking jambalaya, gumbo, crawfish by the pound — and don’t forget the King Cake.
The pastry is a special treat that is shared before and on Fat Tuesday. And if you get the baby in your piece, tradition says you bring the next cake.
Mardi Gras is March 4 this year, but you can celebrate well before Fat Tuesday at several restaurants. You can get in the spirit with a taste of the Bayou here in the Bluegrass.
Here’s our guide and list of local Lexington restaurants, bakeries and caterers offering a menu of Cajun/Creole favorites from alligator etouffee to zydeco music and much more.
B’s Bakery
241 W. Main St. in Frankfort, 502-699-2222. B’s Bakery is taking orders for King Cakes. Each serves eight to 10 for $28; King Cakes with fillings for $38; call for flavors. Mardi Gras-themed cupcakes and cookies also available. B’s Bakery will be closed on Tuesday but everything will be available on Saturday before the day.
Bayou Bluegrass Catering
903 Manchester St., Bayoubluegrass.com, 859-523-7915. Bayou Bluegrass will be doing Mardi Gras out of their Manchester Reserve location this year on March 4.
They have a crawfish boil sold by the pound at market price, or go with a buffet that includes Louisiana-style fried alligator, Cajun fried turkey, red beans & rice, shrimp etouffee, chicken & sausage jambalaya, chicken & sausage gumbo, New Orleans bread pudding, N’awlins pralines, King Cake, beignets and more.
Make reservations for dining in with lunch seatings (adults $26, children $19) at 11:30 a.m., noon, 1 and 1:30 p.m. or dinner seatings (adults $33, children $26) 5:30, 6, 7:30 and 8 p.m. Or pre-order dishes for six for curbside pickup (including Hurricanes by the gallon) or a package that serves 12 for $175, on Friday Feb. 28 or March 4.
Bear & The Butcher
815 Euclid Ave., bearandthebutcher.com, 859-469-9188. Bear & The Butcher will celebrate March 1-4 with Cajun Mac & Cheese, Shrimp & Grits, King Cakes, Beignets and Hurricanes in take-home cups. Plus Mardi Gras team trivia starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Bourbon ‘n’ Toulouse
829 Euclid Ave. and 1781 Sharkey Way, Ilovecajun.com, 859-335-0300 and (859) 303-5012. This year the party starts Friday, Feb. 28, and runs through Fat Tuesday with specials each day.
Look for Alligator Sauce Piquant, Shrimp Creole, Alligator Sausages, Swamp Dogs (gator sausages topped with Crawfish Étouffée) Crawfish Creole and Alligator Étouffée, plus Kings Cakes and Mardi Gras Cookies from Sequel Catery. You can also order Mardi Gras Party Packs online.
At the Euclid locations, there are hurricane and beer specials next door at Chevy Chase Inn with live music.
Caramanda’s Bake Shoppe
2220 Nicholasville Rd., caramandas.com, 859-278-7172. Caramanda’s will have a “funfetti” version of King Cake this year you can pre-order and cupcakes decorated in Mardi Gras colors. Order at least 48 hours in advance.
The Cellar
3256 Lansdowne Dr., cellargrille.com, 859-317-8301. The Cellar will have specials on Tuesday including jambalaya, gumbo, chicken Creole, shrimp Creole, beignets and Hurricane drink specials.
Donut Days
185 Southland Dr., Donutdaysbakery.com, 859-277-9414. Donut Days is taking orders for King Cakes and has them in store now. Available in cinnamon, cream cheese, apple and cherry flavors for $26.99 and comes with beads, coin, and baby in a presentation box.
DV8 Kitchen
867 S. Broadway & 594 E. Third St., dv8kitchen.com, 859-955-0388 & 859-832-0388. DV8 will have King Cake cinnamon rolls, complete with Mardi Gras colored sugar, through March 4, while supplies last.
Gumbo YaYa
294 E. Brannon Rd., gumboyayaky.com, 859-245-9292. Gumbo YaYa’s 22nd annual celebration will kick off on Feb. 28, dubbed “Fat Friday,” with alligator sauce piquant, shrimp & lobster etouffee, chicken Creole and other traditional favorites.
You can pre-order their made-from-scratch fully decorated King Cakes for $35. Baby King Cakes (serve 4 for $12) are also available in limited quantities. Call ahead for carryout party packs, which serve 10 for $50, quarts and gallons.
ABITA beer selection are on special for $2 through March 4. On Mardi Gras Tuesday, Ale-8-One will handout free merchandise, beads, Tshirts, etc. And, as always, free slices of King Cake on Fat Tuesday with purchase while supplies last.
J. Render’s
3191 Beaumont Centre Circle, jrendersbbq.com, 859-533-9777. J. Render’s will have jambalaya beginning March 1.
Martine’s Pastries
Martine’s Pastries, 400 East Third St., martinespastries.com, 859-231-9110. Martine’s is taking orders for King Cakes to pick up either Friday, Saturday or Fat Tuesday, available with pistachio or cinnamon cream filling.
Midway Bakery
510 S. Winter St. in Midway, themidwaybakery.com, 859-846-4336. Midway will have King Cakes and Mardi Gras-themed sugar cookies.
The Mousetrap
3323 Tates Creek Rd., Mousetrapky.com, 859-269-2958. House-made gumbo, jambalaya, Cajun shrimp, muffaletta sandwiches are available in the deli.
Proud Mary BBQ
9079 Old Richmond Rd., Proudmarybbq.com, 859-913-5611. Despite recent river flooding, Proud Mary will be open, according to the owners.
Proud Mary will have a heated tent and live music as well as boiled crawfish, Hurricanes, boudin balls, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, fried catfish, barbecue shrimp, corn maque choux, fried catfish, barbecue brisket, smothered cabbage, seasoned green beans, beignets and King Cake.
Ramsey’s
All four locations, Ramseysdiners.com. Ramsey’s Diners will celebrating Fat Tuesday with a live crawfish and shrimp boil.
You can choose between crawfish or shrimp or for the indecisive diners, a combination of each. The special also includes seafood gumbo, red beans and rice, corn, red potatoes and garlic french bread. Wash it down with a great selection of all-day drink specials including house-made Hurricanes. Come get your beads from 11 a.m. until the Fat Lady sings.
Shrimp Special is $21.95, Crawfish Special is $24.95, Combo Special is $23.45.
Selma’s
720 Henry Clay Blvd., selmascatering.com, 859-971-2763. Selma’s will have Mardi Gras specials Feb. 27 through March 5 as well as in the Grab and Go case all week.
Specials include red beans & rice with sausage, fried fish with Cajun chips, chicken and sausage etouffee, two sizes of King Cake and decorated Mardi Gras cookies 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch, and for grab and go from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also call to pre-order for a group in advance or reserve a King Cake.
Shamrock Bar and Grille
Patchen Drive and Brannon Crossing; shamrocksky.com. Shamrock will have jambalaya, gumbo, chicken Creole, shrimp Creole, beignets and Hurricane drink specials.
Wallace Station
3854 Old Frankfort Pike in Versailles, Wallacestation.com, 859-846-5161. Wallace Station will have red beans and rice, King Cake beignets with tri-color icing, seafood po-boy with choice of shrimp, catfish or lobster.
Windy Corner Market
4595 Bryan Station Rd., Windycornermarket.com, 859-294-9338. Windy Corner has been celebrating since Jan. 7, honoring a different dish each week.
But if you’ve missed all that, don’t worry, because from Feb. 24 to March 4, they will have all their best-selling crowd favorites from the past eight weeks, and of course, King Cake, with music by the Honey Creek Stompers on March 4.
Zim’s Cafe
215 W. Main St., Suite 25 in the Old Courthouse, zimscafe.com, 859-785-3690. Zim’s will have duck gumbo, red beans and rice, fried okra fritters and Midway Bakery King Cake.
Sazerac, French 75, and The Fox Hooch (a rum-based punch) are also available.
This story was originally published February 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
