New-to-Kentucky pasta restaurant opens in Lexington, plans more locations
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Nothing But Noodles will open its first Lexington location mid-to-late June.
- The menu includes 23 global noodle selections with entrées mostly $11.50–$14.50.
- Operators plan eight Kentucky locations, with two more Lexington sites planned.
A new-to-Kentucky fast casual restaurant chain has opened its first Lexington location with plans to open two more.
The operators of a Nothing But Noodles franchise opened on Harrodsburg Road in the Ethington Shops development, just down the road from Publix at the Fountains at Palomar and the newly opened Graeter’s Ice Cream.
The restaurant is known for made-to-order, wok-seared pasta dishes drawing influences from Asia, Europe, the Mediterranean and America.
“You can come here and get Japanese or you can come here and get Italian,” said General Manager Kevin Burnett. “We’re going to have a variety of focus.”
It’s the first Kentucky location for the chain, which has six restaurants in North Carolina and Alabama.
Jay Patel, son of owner Kaushik Patel, says his family would dine weekly at Nothing But Noodles when they lived in Alabama. He said they noticed a void in the Lexington market when they moved to Kentucky in 2022.
“We saw there’s no place like Nothing But Noodles — the sauces, the breadsticks, the price — no one can compare,” said Patel.
The new quick-service restaurant will have dine-in, carryout and catering, but no waiters.
“There’s no garbage cans here, because we take care of everything,” said Burnett. We come and clean it up.”
What’s on the menu at Nothing But Noodles?
The menu spans a variety of cultural influences beyond Italian and Asian. It has 23 global noodle selections from Asian pad Thai ($11.50) and beef stroganoff ($14.50), to basil pesto ($11.50) and shrimp scampi ($14.50).
There’s a menu of appetizers, soups and salads, including Thai lettuce wraps ($8.75), tomato bisque ($6 cup, $9 bowl) and cranberry spinach salad ($6.50 half, $8.50 full).
Most of the made-to-order pasta entrées come without a protein and range in price from $11.50-$14.50. Beef, chicken, meatballs, shrimp, tofu or a variety of vegetables can be added to any noodle or salad bowl ($2.25-$5.50). All the Italian and American-inspired pasta dishes come with a freshly-made breadstick.
A number of the dishes can be made gluten-free or vegan. There is a kids’ menu that includes Buttery Noodles ($7.50) and Macaroni and Cheese ($8).
Burnett expects popular dishes to include:
- Spicy Cajun Pasta: penne pasta tossed in rustic tomato cream sauce, scallions, fresh yellow onions and red bell peppers ($11.50)
- Shanghai Noodles: lo mein noodles caramelized in a spicy sweet and sour sauce, wok seared with pineapple chunks, red bell peppers, snow peas, carrots and scallions ($11.50)
- Steak Salad: tender sirloin steak, roasted red bell peppers, grape tomatoes, fried onions, red onions and spinach with Cheddar Jack cheese atop Romaine lettuce and tossed in a chipotle ranch dressing ($12.50).
Nothing But Noodles expansion in Kentucky
The operators are excited to be in a growing part of town with lots of traffic and nearby neighborhoods. They plan to open eight locations in Kentucky, including Louisville, Bowling Green, Northern Kentucky and two more in Lexington.
Patel and Burnett said they are in talks with the new Hamburg East development and plan to open there in 2028. Then they will look at expanding near the Citation Boulevard development.
“We’re going to have some space in between the restaurants,” Barnett said.
Added Patel, “and after we’re done with Kentucky, we’re moving down to Tennessee or Ohio.”
Nothing But Noodles
Where: 4257 Harrodsburg Road, Suite 150, next to the Kroger Fuel Center
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday
Carryout, catering, delivery: 859-346-3161
