New restaurant coming to Jefferson Street in former Enoteca space

The hot Jefferson Street dining corridor is about to get a new restaurant.

The building that was the home of Enoteca until October has been leased. It will be the new home of El Espalón Mexican Restaurant, which had been on New Circle Road.

Owner Cesar Rodriguez said Monday that he plans to offer upscale Tex-Mex with an expanded menu and a full bar. He hopes to be open in a month, but it might be two, he said.

Enoteca was a wine and tapas bar that was a surprising casualty of the evolving Lexington dining market. At the time, owner Seth Brewer said that vibrant food scene had become increasingly competitive and that he decided to close rather than compromise on quality.

“At the time we opened, Jefferson Street was pretty much the only pocket. ... But now there are more of those, and our kind of foodie audience wants to explore. They like small local business and well made food, and there are lots of cool places doing that. Any time a person decides to venture out and try a new place ... that might be their new go-to place,” Brewer said.

The Jefferson Street corridor is home to a string of restaurants and bars including Wagon Bones Grill, Stella’s Kentucky Deli, Blue Heron Steakhouse, Grey Goose, Nick Ryan’s, and West Sixth Brewery and Smithtown Seafood.

Brewer said he felt the new restaurant will bring something new to the neighborhood, with another family dining option without a big price tag.

The menu for the previous version includes lunch and dinner specials and many items under $10.

El Espolón will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and also plans to offer delivery to businesses in the downtown area.

This story was originally published February 13, 2018 at 9:55 AM with the headline "New restaurant coming to Jefferson Street in former Enoteca space."