New Lexington restaurant opening with Southern comfort menu, all-day breakfast
A new Lexington restaurant is opening in the Northside’s Greyline Station with a menu of Southern comfort food.
Charming Magnolia Eatery plans to open July 1 at 101 W Loudon Ave., #162, in the former location of Chocolate Holler, which closed in April.
Co-owners Becky and Bryan Lunsford are renovating the spot located next to Darling Wine Bar and North Lime Coffee and Donuts.
The couple, who recently moved to Lexington, own The Coffee Spot on Main in Williamsburg and started Charming Magnolia as a catering cart earlier this year.
“We don’t want 9-5’s, we don’t like working for somebody else. I’m an entrepreneur, I’ve had multiple businesses, so we just decided that this is going to be our retirement,” said Becky.
The opening comes as Greyline Station recently announced major changes to the Northside Lexington space at Loudon and North Limestone. Wedding and event venue The Clerestory is closing at the end of the year, its Greyline Station space to be absorbed by a major expansion of locally founded tech business Space Tango.
What is on the menu at the new restaurant inside Greyline Station?
Becky says two things will stand out in their new Lexington restaurant: the food, and the quaint atmosphere and space that will seat 32.
Starting out, Charming Magnolia Eatery will focus on a breakfast and lunch menu, closing just before dinner. All-day breakfast will be a staple of the menu, Becky said.
“We’re going to have homemade biscuits and gravy, Belgian waffles, lots of different sandwiches cooked to order and different bowls,” said Becky, praising her husband’s cooking for the menu that will include the Magnolia Benny. “Homemade biscuit with poached eggs, sausage gravy, sprinkled bacon, little parsley — that’s going to be one of our signature things.”
The Southern comfort food menu will also include panini sandwiches, homemade meatloaf, daily specials and an outside smoker for barbecue.
Becky said breakfast sandwiches will be about $8, while the highest item on the menu costing around $16.
Charming Magnolia will continue to offer catering with its interactive barbecue, Mexican and dessert carts, but the main focus is now the new restaurant.
“We like cooking together. He likes experimenting with food. He’s made the best biscuits and gravy I’ve ever had in my life. That’s why I married him.” Becky said jokingly.
