New Lexington restaurants: See what’s open now and coming soon
Lexington’s dining scene has been through some rough patches recently, but things are looking up, with new restaurants opening up all over town.
Here is a list and guide to what’s coming in locations around Lexington and surrounding Central Kentucky.
Carson’s Back Porch
Carson’s Back Porch, a new concept from Carson’s opened May 18 at 321 E. Vine St. with a menu of seafood, steaks and more after an extensive renovation of the former Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken location.
The atmosphere is upscale but inviting, with the feel of dining outdoors on a Charleston, South Carolina, porch. It’s open Monday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Reservations recommended at carsonsbackporch.com.
Panera Bread
The new Panera Bread opened at 1425 Newtown Center Way on May 14. The location has dine-in and drive-thru pickup, just off Citation Boulevard and Newtown Pike.
The popular chain is open Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Grounded All Day Cafe
Rock and Heather Daniels have expanded their Grounded All Day Cafe to a second location downtown at 125 Cheapside, where Nate’s Coffee closed at the end of 2025 after seven years.
The new coffee shop still features Nathan Polly’s locally roasted coffees, as well as bagels flown in daily from New York and house-made spreads and other items. Eventually, they plan to add a liquor license.
Open daily 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with extended hours on Thursday until 8 p.m. for Thursday Night Live in the Fifth Third Pavilion in Tandy Park.
Serendipity Public House
Serendipity Public House opened at the end of April in Midway. It’s a coffee, tea and pastries shop that also sells beer, wine, specialty cocktails and small bites, including charcuterie and butter boards from a 1850s building renovated by Caitlin Battaglia and Henry Zahn, the elder child of actor Steve Zahn and author Robyn Peterman Zahn.
Bruen Bunker
A local bar with two golf simulators has opened in Midway’s original fire station. The Bruen Bunker, also called The Bunker, opened April 9, one street away from the town’s popular, historic Main Street.
The new bar features 10 beers on tap, a curated cocktail menu, a selection of many Kentucky bourbons and a limited menu from nearby The Goose and Gander.
Carlisle Cafe at Buffalo Trace
On May 11, Buffalo Trace Distillery at 113 Great Buffalo Trace in Frankfort opened the John G. Carlisle Cafe for distillery visitors. It’s in the Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse lodge, with seating for 70, plus additional seating on the patio outside.
The cafe is open daily 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a menu of sandwiches, salads and desserts (the cheesecake with Buffalo Trace bourbon caramel sauce was so good I bought some sauce to take home from gift shop).
Doc Crow’s Social
Doc Crow’s Social, a new concept from the owner of Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar in Louisville, has opened in the two former Goodwood Brewing brewpub spots at 200 Lexington Green Circle in Lexington and 109 W. Main St. in Frankfort.
Both are open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a menu of burgers, wings, Southern comfort food and more.
Birdies Chicken
Birdies Chicken opened at 112 N. Mill St. in April, serving fresh-cooked chicken tenders and chicken tender sandwiches with fries.
After a trial run serving lunch, the restaurant has switched to evening and late-night hours, 6:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but hopes to add lunch back later.
Muggles Traveling Cafe
Muggles Traveling Cafe opened up in April inside Backroads Bakery at 109 W. Sixth St. behind Al’s Bar. They sell “dirty” sodas with magical potion themes and specialty coffee drinks, perfect with cheesecake. They plan to open up outside in the courtyard in warm weather.
Open Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday hours are coming, with extended hours added during the summer.
Jaggers
A second Lexington location of popular burger chain Jaggers opened on April 20 at 3029 Richmond Rd., near Kroger. From the people behind Texas Roadhouse, the restaurant has a menu of double-stack burgers, hand-breaded chicken tenders and sandwiches, chopped salads with signature dressing and thick milkshakes. Vegetarian black bean burger also available.
Look for another Jaggers coming to the Newtown and Citation area.
Open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Better Blend
Better Blend, which serves low sugar, high protein healthy smoothies, acai, oat and smoothie bowls, opened a second Lexington location in Patchen Square at 2860 Richmond Road on April 22.
Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
New Lexington restaurants opening soon
Smashing Tomato
Smashing Tomato is opening at 112 Lucille Drive in the Masterson Station area on June 16. It will be in the former Biscuit Belly spot, just off Leestown Road, which closed in October 2025 after two years. Smashing Tomato, with locations in Hamburg and near Fayette Mall, is known for its wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas made with fresh ingredients. The restaurant’s menu also has soups, salads and pastas, and the spot serves wine and beer.
It’s expected to be open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Mulberry Street Bar and Kitchen
Mulberry Street Bar and Kitchen, the new restaurant and bar opening in the former Arcadium space at 574 N. Limestone, is expected to open in June.
According to co-owner Kurt Bachelder, the space will be freshly remodeled, with more seating added to the bar area. The menu will have seasonal cocktails and Mediterranean-inspired food, including plant-based options.
The bar will be open Monday through Thursday 5 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The kitchen will be open Wednesday and Thursday 5 to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to midnight and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sweet Cottage Asian Bakery Cafe
Sweet Cottage Asian Bakery Cafe will be opening soon in the former Puccini’s location at 3801 Dylan Place Suite 150, just off Man o’ War. Puccini’s closed in October 2025.
Graeter’s Ice Cream
A new Graeter’s will be opening soon just off Harrodsburg Road at 3957 Fountainblue Lane in the Palomar Springs shopping center, just down the road from the Publix and shops and restaurants at Fountains of Palomar.
Firebirds
According to ads on social media, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is going to open at 2400 Polo Club Blvd. near Costco in mid-June. The restaurant features a menu of seafood, steaks and more, open for lunch and dinner daily and brunch on weekends.
Hellenic Kitchen by Ilias Pappas
Hellenic Kitchen by Ilias Pappas is a new quick-service restaurant with a menu of Greek and Mediterranean options for bowls and sandwiches opening in July in downtown Lexington. This concept will replace the existing Athenian Grill in the Park Plaza Apartments building near the central Lexington Public Library on Main Street, near Limestone.
Joe Brett’s Ice Cream
Winchester-based ice cream shop Joe Brett’s Ice Cream recently announced on social media they plan to open a downtown Lexington location. The new ice cream shop will open at 113 N. Broadway, next door to Urban Outfitters, taking the spot formally occupied by Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen, which closed last year.
No details on when Joe Brett’s will open. They are known for their boozy ice cream like whiskey peach, vanilla bourbon, mint julep bourbon and coconut rum, but they have non-alcoholic flavors as well.
Takumi Asian Bistro
A new neighborhood Chinese restaurant plans to open in a shopping center off Chinoe Road in the same location where a dining spot was closed by the health department. Takumi Asian Bistro has filed renovation permits with the city for the new restaurant at 1060 Chinoe Rd. #148, which is where Jin Jin Chinese Restaurant was forced to close in April 2023 “for observed priority violations.”
No word on when the 2,323 square-foot Chinese restaurant will open.
Sunrise Donuts
A new doughnut shop is coming to town: Sunrise Donuts will open sometime in June at 565 E. New Circle Rd. Stay tuned for details on what they will offer.
