Lexington burger institution to close. These are the city’s other longstanding spots
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Lexington burger institution to close. These are the city’s other longstanding spots
With news that legendary Lexington burger spot Tolly-Ho is closing at the end of the year, one of the city’s oldest restaurants will be going away.
After 53 years of service, Tolly-Ho, a Lexington dining institution that has served University of Kentucky students and professors, late-night diners and those looking for a cheap lunch, will close after serving customers Dec. 31.
The restaurant, known for its single, double and triple Ho burgers, opened on Winslow Street in 1971 before moving to Limestone then to South Broadway, and then, finally, farther out to 350 Foreman Ave. and South Broadway in August 2024.
While new restaurants come and go, Tolly-Ho joins other longtime Lexington dining spots that recently closed, including Max’s Loudon Square Buffet and the Parkette Drive-In.
But there are plenty of other old-timers in town still open, each a favorite of Lexington foodies for at least 30 years. These 10 are the longest currently open restaurants in Lexington, from youngest to oldest (not counting bakeries).
A.P. Suggins Bar & Grill
345 Romany Road; 859-268-0709; suggins.com
The baby of the bunch at 34 years old, this neighborhood bar and grill is a place where if everyone doesn’t know your name, they’ll act like they do.
Casual is the word here (they don’t care how many rips you have in your jeans) and especially menu where comfort food — such as chicken croquettes, pork chops and chicken livers served over white toast with white gravy — reigns supreme. Also known for burgers, beer cheese and chili.
Ramsey’s Diner
4391 Old Harrodsburg Road, 859-219-1626; 3090 Helmsdale Place Suite 279, 859-264-9396; 151 W. Zandale Dr., 859-259-2708; 112 Lucille Dr., 859-551-3460; ramseysdiners.com
Everyone’s favorite diner has been in business since 1989 when it opened on High Street. While that location is no more, Ramsey’s still has locations on Harrodsburg Road, Andover, Masterston Station and Zandale.
That means most of Lexington has convenient access to their menu favorites Hot Browns and Buffalo Chicken Salad as well as their traditional breakfasts.
Paisano’s Italian Restaurant & Lounge
2417 Nicholasville Rd.; 859-533-2607; paisanositalianky.com
Loyal customers having been coming to this small Italian eatery for 41 years for the extensive menu in which practically everything is made in-house.
The house-made items include pizza, bread and sauces. Menu favorites include Marco’s Chicken, Veal Saltimbocca and Paisano’s Sampler (chicken Parmesan, lasagna, Italian sausage and meatballs). Meals come with choice of soup or salad, and don’t miss out on the minestrone.
Dudley’s on Short
259 W. Short Street #125;859-252-1010; dudleysonshort.com
A two-time “Southern Living” magazine winner in their “Best of the South” awards, this wildly popular fine dining restaurant debuted at Dudley Square in 1981 and moved to its current location in 2010.
Owner Debbie Long is very much a fixture at the restaurant, and attributes her success to always being there to oversee operations, and the fact that 85 percent of her business is repeat and 75 percent is local. Two of her menu items, Pasta Dudley and Tournedos Maxwell, have been around almost as long as the restaurant.
Charlie Brown’s
816 Euclid Ave.; 859-269-5701; charliebrownslex.com
Charlie Brown’s opened in 1977 and became an instant hit with University of Kentucky students, who loved the atmosphere – equating it to hanging out in your best friend’s basement – only with food.
The décor – if you can call it that – consists of mismatched sofas and chairs, and vintage posters on the walls (the light is so dim it will take a while to see them). Thrift store for sure, but that’s part of the appeal.
As for the food, don’t pass up the Hot Pepper Cheese appetizer and the Black and Blue Burger.
In 2023, the restaurant was sold but not much changed.
Merrick Inn
1074 Merrick Dr. off Tates Creek Rd.; 859-269-5417; themerrickinn.com
One of Lexington’s favorite fine dining restaurants for nearly half a century (since 1974), the Merrick Inn has a pedigree unrivaled in the Bluegrass. That pedigree results not only from success in the restaurant industry, but the Thoroughbred industry as well.
As a horse farm, Merrick Place was the training site of 1918 Kentucky Derby winner Exterminator, who won 61 of his 125 races, and whose gravestone is in the circle in front of the inn, once the farm’s manor house.
The restaurant sold in 2021 and the new owners have done some updates, but it’s substantially the same.
Atmosphere abounds in the picturesque dining rooms complete with white linen tablecloths and framed equine art. But the food doesn’t take a back seat to the décor.
Routinely rated one of the South’s best restaurants, the Merrick Inn is famous for its fried chicken and other Southern staples (don’t miss out on the bourbon slush).
With its combination of unpretentious comfort food, elegant surroundings, topnotch service and ties to Thoroughbred tradition, it’s no wonder that the Merrick Inn has been winning, placing and showing for generations of Lexingtonians.
Joe Bologna’s
120 West Maxwell St.; 859252-4933; joebolognas.com
Before big chain pizza emporiums began mushrooming all over Lexington like ... well, mushrooms on a pizza, there was Joe Bologna’s. It opened in 1973 at the corner of W. Maxwell and S. Limestone to instant acclaim for its Italian menu. In Dec. 1988 owner Joe Bologna announced plans to move his popular Italian restaurant to the former temple of the Ohavay Zion Synagogue on West Maxwell. Bologna said he wanted a larger restaurant. Its architectural touches from the 1880s brick house of worship include 40 stained glass windows, antique wood floors and loft chandeliers.
Impressive, but so are made in-house items such as breadsticks, pizza dough, soups, sauces and most salad dressings. It’s known for specialty pizzas such as Hawaiian Pizza (ham, pineapple, green peppers, mozzarella cheese and mild BBQ sauce) and Mexican Pizza (seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, jalapeno and green peppers, onions, black olives and tomatoes.)
In 2024, Bologna retired and sold the restaurant after a brief time of the possibility of it closing.
Burgers Shakes
219 E. New Circle Road; 859-299-4113
This old school burger joint has been in operation since 1957 – that’s right, 68 years. That adds up to a lot of burgers, fries, and shakes, not to mention cheeseburgers, fish sandwiches and chicken sandwiches.
For those watching their wallets, it’s comforting to know that you can still get a cheap burger and they only accept cash.
Thoroughbred Restaurant
1483 Leestown Rd.; 859-252-9153; facebook.com/thoroughbredrestaurant
Remember how your mother always urged, “eat your vegetables?” That’s getting harder to do these days with many restaurants considering mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and French fries vegetables.
Thankfully, this unassuming spot which has occupied the same space in a strip shopping center on Leestown Road since 1954, continues to follow mom’s advice.
Veggies such as asparagus, carrots, greens, cauliflower, stewed tomatoes, corn and green beans are on the chalkboard menu daily.
The menu lists six to eight options for lunch and nine or 10 at dinner. (Be forewarned: once they are out of an item, you are out of luck.)
Menu favorites include meatloaf, baked chicken, ribs and burgers.
Seeing your menu choice disappear from the chalk board with one swipe of an eraser will likely be the only disappointment you’ll experience here.
Columbia Steak House
201 N. Limestone; 859-253-3135; columbiassteakhouse.com
Columbia Steak House claims the title of Lexington’s oldest restaurant, opening in 1948. Before there was Malone’s, Tony’s and Jeff Ruby’s, there was Columbia’s, a no-frills eatery reminiscent of the best steakhouses in New York and Chicago.
It may not be as fancy in menu and décor as the others, but the always reliable (and affordable) steaks, along with the clubby atmosphere have has been enough to make loyal customers of the commonwealth’s governors, senators, business execs and sports figures.
It’s easy to imagine deals struck here over a rib-eye or sirloin, and it’s easier still to imagine the activities that went on in the back room, dubbed the “Mafia Room” and once the site of a gambling operation.
Alas, gambling is a thing of its storied past. Today, you won’t have to gamble when you order the Nighthawk Special, an 8-ounce beef tenderloin marinated in garlic butter with two sides (make one of them the Diego Salad, with its house-made Ranch or Thousand Island dressing.)
The Nighthawk, named in honor of 1960s radio personality Tom Kendall, who spun his discs from midnight to dawn, is just part of this venerable institution’s lore.
This story was originally published December 30, 2025 at 7:43 AM.