New Lexington restaurants: A baker’s dozen dining spots that have opened so far this year

Janet Patton
·5 min read

Lexington’s dining scene is always in flux, with restaurants selling, closing, being torn down and moving. (Looking at you, Joe Bologna’s, Creaux, Coba Cocina and Tolly Ho, respectively.)

But there are always loads of new local restaurants and bars opening too: So far in 2024, several have opened, bringing with it new dining and drinking trends such as a flower bar and two candle bars.

And there are more coming.

Here is a list of a baker’s dozen that have opened this year to check out now.

Blue Door Smokehouse has some of the best BBQ in Lexington. But you gotta get there early or you’ll miss out.
Blue Door Smokehouse has some of the best BBQ in Lexington. But you gotta get there early or you’ll miss out.

Blue Door Smokehouse

Blue Door Smokehouse, which closed at the end of 2023, reopened in a new location around the corner on National Avenue in April, serving its popular smoked meats and sides daily.

Where: 819 National Ave. Suite 140

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 am.m to 8 p.m. Closed Sunday.

Bumble Bites

Bumble Bites in the Palomar shopping center opened in July, serving bubble tea, as well as taro milk tea, sweets such as macarons and onigiri, a kind of Japanese snack.

Where: 3735 Palomar Centre Dr.

Hours: Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Burl Brew features a central 30-seat bar made from a single oak tree.
Burl Brew features a central 30-seat bar made from a single oak tree.

Burl Brew

Burl Brew, a new bar, cafe and brewery, opened in March just off Manchester in the Distillery District. Designed to be a perfect spot for watching sports, Burl Brew serves beers from its own microbrewery as well as signature cocktails in a 6,500-square-foot taproom with a 30-seat bar made from a single oak tree. There’s also a huge outdoor patio space with even more TVs.

Where: 375 Thompson Rd.

Hours: Daily 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Carson’s new location offers views of the former golf course on one of the longest bars in Lexington with 26 seats.
Carson’s new location offers views of the former golf course on one of the longest bars in Lexington with 26 seats.

Carson’s at Andover

Carson’s at Andover opened in July. The second location of Carson’s, the downtown restaurant popular for brunch, lunch and dinner, features the same menu in a bigger suburban space with lots more parking and outdoor seating. The Andover location also has a venue space that can accommodate large or small events.

Where: 3450 Todds Rd.

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Cibon, a gourmet grocery, wine and bar, opened on Rosemont Garden.
Cibon, a gourmet grocery, wine and bar, opened on Rosemont Garden.

Cibon

Cibon, a wine and cheese shop that also sells bourbon and other gourmet goodies, opened on Rosemont Garden in June. Cibon has about 100 different wines and dozens of cheeses and cured meats from around the world. You can select a plate to sample while you’re there or order charcuterie plates for parties.

Where: 211 Rosemont Garden

Hours: Thursday-Saturday noon to 8 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Cosmic Fry, a new restaurant now on Burt Road, serves burgers and mocktails.
Cosmic Fry, a new restaurant now on Burt Road, serves burgers and mocktails.

Cosmic Fry

Cosmic Fry, a diner that serves burgers and mocktails, opened on North Broadway in April but has since moved to 145 Burt Rd. and serving out of the Twisted Cork kitchen.

Where: 145 Burt Rd.

Hours: 3 to 10 p.m. daily

Chicken enchiladas with rice at Mazunte Bodega, a popular Cincinnati Mexican restaurant and bodega which opened a location in Lexington’s Distillery District next to the new Manchester Hotel.
Chicken enchiladas with rice at Mazunte Bodega, a popular Cincinnati Mexican restaurant and bodega which opened a location in Lexington’s Distillery District next to the new Manchester Hotel.

Mazunte Bodega

Mazunte Bodega opened in April on Manchester next to The Manchester Hotel in the Distillery District. Mazunte serves a menu of authentic regional Mexican food specialties including tortas, tlayudas, al pastor, barbacoa and birria. Besides killer guacamole, Mazunte has a surprisingly large menu of vegetarian and vegan options. There’s also a full bar as well as adjoining event spaces.

Where: 903 Manchester St.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

Moody Mike’s

Moody Mike’s, a food truck with an all-vegan menu, decided to open a full-scale cafe in the old Broomwagon Cafe spot on North Limestone. In June they started serving coffee and breakfast items, with a limited menu in the evenings. But they plan to transition to a fuller menu and longer hours once their kitchen is ready.

Where: 802 N. Limestone

Hours: Thursday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the coffee shop and 4 to 9 p.m. for the food truck. Open Sunday 1 to 9 p.m.

Crab cake appetizer at The Obstinate Sons restaurant, a new restaurant and bourbon bar, that opened in Chevy Chase, from Dexter Murray and Cannon Applegate, serving elevated comfort food and vintage bourbon.
Crab cake appetizer at The Obstinate Sons restaurant, a new restaurant and bourbon bar, that opened in Chevy Chase, from Dexter Murray and Cannon Applegate, serving elevated comfort food and vintage bourbon.

The Obstinate Sons

The Obstinate Sons in Chevy Chase from Dexter Murray, son of Josie’s owner and former Merrick Inn (and Murray’s and Banana’s Tavern) owners Jennifer and Bobby Murray, and chef Cannon Applegate opened in February with a menu that leans into seasonal Southern specialties. The bar also has a special collection of vintage bourbons as well as current releases.

Where: 829 Chevy Chase Place

Hours: 4-11 p.m. daily, closed Monday

Rosati’s offers several unique pizzas, including Deep Dish Chicago-style made with loads of mozzarella and the tomato sauce on top.
Rosati’s offers several unique pizzas, including Deep Dish Chicago-style made with loads of mozzarella and the tomato sauce on top.

Rosati’s

Rosati’s Pizza brought its authentic Chicago-style pizza to The Venue shopping center at Nicholasville Road and Malabu Drive. The restaurant opened in May serving deep-dish pizza, thin-crust pizza, Italian beef sandwiches and Italian dogs. Dine-in and carry-out available.

Where: 148 Malabu Drive, Suite 160

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sav’s Gourmet Ice Cream

Mamadou “Sav” Savane retired from restaurants but missed it so much he opened Sav’s Gourmet Ice Cream this spring. The ice cream shop is between the new Blue Door Smokehouse and Void Sake’s place. Sav’s serves 18 different flavors of ice cream and two sorbets: Hibiscus and lavender lemonade.

Where: 819 National Ave., Suite 130

Hours: Open Tuesday through Saturday noon to 10 p.m., Sunday noon to 9 p.m.

Salt and pepper shrimp with white rice and an egg role at Shun Lee Chinese Cuisine restaurant.
Salt and pepper shrimp with white rice and an egg role at Shun Lee Chinese Cuisine restaurant.

Shun Lee

In February, restaurateur Carlo Vaccarezza reopened the upscale French restaurant at 111 Woodland Ave. as Shun Lee, featuring an all new menu of authentic Chinese cuisine such as dumplings, Peking duck for two, General Tso’s chicken, Moo Shu pork as well as mochi ice cream. The menu also includes several vegetarian options and lunch specials.

Where: 111 Woodland Ave.

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday lunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., dinner 4-9 p.m. Closed Monday.

A renovated Wilson’s Grocery resumed sandwiches at lunch in May.
A renovated Wilson’s Grocery resumed sandwiches at lunch in May.

Wilson’s Grocery

A renovated Wilson’s Grocery reopened over the winter and in May new owner Matt Bastin relaunched Kenwick’s favorite lunch. You can grab a baloney or three-cheese sandwich for $3.50, or get the daily special for about $6. And now you can get fresh-baked pies and other desserts from Honeyshine Pies. Wilson’s also has fresh-baked bread from Sunrise Bakery, and grab-and-go items as well as selection of pantry and fresh grocery items. And lots of beer.

Where: 1010 Cramer Ave.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.

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