News Summary
Lexington’s culinary scene is thriving with several new dining options opening this summer, including First Watch, Son of a Burger, Alpha Reserve, and more. These establishments aim to enhance local dining experiences for both residents and visitors. Amid this growth, Lexington Restaurant Week runs from July 17 to July 27, showcasing over 35 participating restaurants with special menus. Future openings include Chicken Salad Chick and J.B. Steele’s. This expansion highlights the city’s commitment to diversifying its food and drink landscape.
Lexington is welcoming an array of new dining experiences this summer, including restaurants, taprooms, and event spaces. With multiple openings in July, the local culinary scene is experiencing significant growth that diversifies food and drink options for residents and visitors alike.
Among the newly opened establishments, First Watch has started serving breakfast and lunch at 124 Towne Center Drive. This marks its fifth location in Lexington and the 18th location across Kentucky. The restaurant operates daily from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., offering a range of fresh breakfast and brunch options.
Another noteworthy addition is Son of a Burger, which specializes in smashburgers, fries, and vegetarian choices. Located at 101 W. Loudon Ave. in Greyline Station, this burger joint opened in July and operates daily starting at 4 p.m.
The mixed-use event space, Alpha Reserve, has begun operating at 319 Cedar St. It offers facilities for social events and private parties, alongside office spaces and a short-term rental unit. This venue aims to cater to various community needs and functions.
Additionally, the beloved Jasmine Rice Thai and Vietnamese Restaurant is reopening at 680 Lima Drive with its grand opening set for August 3. It will operate Monday to Friday with limited hours, adding to the diverse culinary landscape of the area.
On July 24, PKL LEX opened its doors at 223 Owens St., off Winchester Road, featuring indoor pickleball courts alongside a taproom from Country Boy Brewing. This unique combination seeks to provide a lively atmosphere for sports and dining enthusiasts.
Further expanding the beverage scene, Mirror Twin Brewing plans to launch a second taproom, named The Elkhorn, located on Harrodsburg Road this summer. This development will enhance the local craft beer offerings.
In the coming months, Chicken Salad Chick will open a second location at 1956 Bryant Road in Hamburg, scheduled for October. It will provide the same menu as its Brannon Crossing counterpart, meeting demand for their specialty items. The same site will also house a new location of Nothing Bundt Cakes, planned for Fall.
Meanwhile, J.B. Steele’s aims to open at 4750 Hartland Parkway in August, featuring a Southern comfort food concept that is expected to be well-received.
Amid these new openings, Lexington Restaurant Week, running from July 17 to July 27, is celebrating local dining establishments with fixed-price three-course menus. More than 35 restaurants are participating, with meals priced between $25 and $45 per person, showcasing the variety of culinary offerings in the area.
The kickoff event for Restaurant Week, The Bourbon Cup, took place on July 14, allowing chefs from top local restaurants to create unique bourbon-infused dishes. Tickets for the event were priced at $25 per person, with proceeds benefiting FoodChain, a nonprofit organization focused on enhancing local food access.
During Restaurant Week, many participating restaurants emphasize sourcing ingredients locally and infusing bourbon into special menu items. Due to high demand and limited seating, reservations for these experiences are highly recommended.
With these developments, Lexington’s dining landscape continues to grow, offering residents and visitors an exciting array of food and drink options this summer.
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Additional Resources
- Kentucky.com: New Dining Experiences in Lexington
- Wikipedia: Lexington, Kentucky
- LEX18: Lexington Restaurant Week Kickoff
- Google Search: Lexington Restaurant Week
- Kentucky.com: Features of Lexington Restaurant Week
- Google Scholar: Local Food Access Lexington
- The State: New Restaurant Openings in Lexington
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Lexington Restaurant Scene
- Kentucky.com: Culinary Landscape of Lexington
- Google News: Dining in Lexington
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON KY STAFF
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexingtonKY.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
