Local

10 restaurant openings and updates that have enriched Kentucky's dining scene

Stories by Lexington Herald-Leader journalists, with AI summarization

These articles focus on various new openings and updates in Kentucky's dining scene. They showcase a Lexington Mexican restaurant's fourth location, a private club promoting cultural unity, and a Yemeni cafe introducing a new ambiance.

Read more below.

A rendering of the interior of the new John G. Carlisle Cafe, which is expected to open in the Spring of 2026 in the first floor of the historic Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort.

NO. 1: BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY IS ADDING A CAFE. HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW

Buffalo Trace is expanding again, but this time the addition isn’t a new bourbon. | Published August 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Papi’s Rapido, a new restaurant at 1214 South Broadway, will a grand opening June 26, 2020, with outdoor seating and a drive-through service, dining options that happen to also adhere to social distancing concerns due to COVID-19. This restaurant is a new, more fast-paced, location of Papi’s Mexican Restaurant in Chevy Chase. The menu will be similar to that of the existing restaurant, with items such as various street tacos, burritos, and quesadillas -- and including options for those with dietary restrictions. By Sam Mallon

NO. 2: POPULAR LEXINGTON MEXICAN RESTAURANT OPENING FOURTH LOCATION IN NEW SHOPPING CENTER

The new location will have some special details. | Published March 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The new Camel Club, opening in Lexington, will include a terrace with seating, according to this rendering.

NO. 3: PRIVATE CLUB OPENING IN LEXINGTON’S FORMER CROSS GATE GALLERY WITH RESTAURANT, BARS, TERRACE

Applications are open for membership. Here are the perks. | Published February 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The Funkhi ($19) pizza, left, and the TBC pasta dish at Crust ($22). Crust, which closed in 2020 during the COVID pandemic is now open again in a new location in the Beaumont neighborhood of Lexington.

NO. 4: SNEAK PEEK: LEXINGTON PIZZA, PASTA RESTAURANT REOPENS AFTER COVID WITH ‘BOLD FLAVORS’

See highlights of the new menu, inside the new location and what plans the popular local restaurant company has next. | Published March 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

The crispy chicken salad, with cafe greens, heirloom tomatoes, hens egg, pancetta, smoked peanuts and honey mustard dressing at Bella Cafe & Grille at 890 E. High St. in Lexington, Ky. Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 5: POPULAR CAFE TO OPEN NEW LEXINGTON LOCATION NEXT TO SISTER RESTAURANT IN HAMBURG

It will be the third location of a popular Lexington restaurant from a local dining legend. | Published June 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

Freshly fried, golden chicken strips are complemented by a summer fruit cup that's made to order at the first Jaggers location on 2350 Norman Lane at Regency Center on August 5, 2025, in Lexington, KY. By Tasha Poullard

NO. 6: NEW BURGER, CHICKEN TENDERS RESTAURANT FROM TEXAS ROADHOUSE OPENS IN LEXINGTON

A new burger chain from the people behind Texas Roadhouse has arrived in Lexington. | Published August 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Bread and Roses Bakery offers a variety of bread and pastries. The new store is running on limited hours now, but is hoping to expand hours in the future. By Peyton Ashton

NO. 7: NEW ADDITION TO MICHLER’S NURSERY & CAFE HAS ‘FLOURED’ ON HIGH STREET

A popular Lexington cafe has extended its culinary reach with the addition of a neighboring bakery. | Published August 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jake McMahon

Two hand-pulled noodle dishes from Kung Fu Noodle, photographed Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. At left is Dan Dan Hand-Stretched Noodles with ground pork, long string beans, sesame paste and special garlic sauce ($12.95). At right is Lanzhou Beef-Noodle Soup which is served with braised beef slices, sliced white radish, green garlic, cilantro in a dark beef broth ($12.95). Owner Dennis Zhang said the classic Chinese dish is known for its homemade noodles, particularly the texture and the broth. “It's the soul of that dish.” By Brian Simms

NO. 8: ONE OF YELP’S BEST PLACES TO EAT OPENS IN LEXINGTON WITH HAND-PULLED NOODLES

An authentic Chinese restaurant that was named to Yelp’s annual 100 Best Places to Eat list in 2024 has opened in Lexington with a menu highlighted by its hand-pulled noodles. | Published August 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

Two Yemeni drinks from Shibam Coffee, a new to Lexington coffee shop that will open in November near the UK campus. At left is Adeni Tea and at right is a Pistachio Affogato.

NO. 9: A NEW COFFEE SHOP IS BRINGING A NATIONAL TREND TO LEXINGTON. HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW

A new kind of coffee shop is bringing a national trend to Lexington. | Published August 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

The Midnight Madness smash burger ($13.50) with American cheese, egg, bacon and crispy onion tanglers from KSBar & Grille in Lexington, Ky., photographed Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. The sports bar is getting its Kentucky Proud beef delivered from Noche Linda Farms in Paris. By Brian Simms

NO. 10: LEXINGTON SPORTS BAR REOPENS WITH NEW MENU & LOOK IN TIME FOR UK FOOTBALL SEASON

A popular Lexington sports bar that closed during the summer is back just in time for University of Kentucky football season. | Published August 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.