Penny’s at Pomegranate Opens in Lexington

News Summary

Chef Ouita Michel and textile designer Angela Beck have launched their new café, Penny’s at Pomegranate, in a quaint courtyard in Lexington. The café, which opened in April 2025, offers a mix of dine-in and grab-and-go options, featuring healthy, seasonally inspired dishes influenced by traditional Kentucky cuisine. While meals are prepared off-site at Michelle’s catering business, the café aims to be a community hub for local residents, emphasizing connection and social interaction through various neighborhood activities.

Lexington – A new culinary destination has emerged in Lexington as Chef Ouita Michel and textile designer Angela Beck unveil their café, Penny’s at Pomegranate. Located in the courtyard of a modest bungalow on Clay Avenue, the café combines Michel’s renowned culinary skills with Beck’s textile artistry, creating a unique dining experience in the Bluegrass region.

Penny’s officially opened its doors in April 2025, marking Michel’s 11th venture in the local culinary scene. The launch had been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the café is now set to cater to local patrons seeking healthy and convenient meal options.

The café is designed to operate as a hybrid of dine-in and grab-and-go services, emphasizing to-go meals due to the absence of a full kitchen on-site. All dishes served at Penny’s are prepared at Fasig-Tipton, where Michel runs her catering business, Holly Hill Events, and then transported to the café for service. This arrangement allows diners to enjoy high-quality meals even in a casual setting.

A Culinary Experience with a Local Touch

Penny’s offers a small courtyard with benches and tables, evoking the atmosphere of a garden shed while providing a place for customers to enjoy their meals. The dining experience features a thoughtful and multi-tiered approach, merging a Pomegranate-branded tabletop setting with exquisite food from Michel’s culinary repertoire.

The menu at Penny’s emphasizes healthy, seasonally inspired dishes, heavily influenced by traditional Kentucky cuisine. Featured menu items include:

• Quinoa salad with poached chicken
• Chicken salad (Chicky Sal) with dried cranberries and almonds
• Egg salad (Eggy Sal) made with fresh dill, red onions, and mustard
• Benedictine served on yeast-risen crackers

Diners can also enjoy wine selections from Beck’s vineyard located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley or opt for takeout, catering to those on-the-go. The café aims to attract local residents seeking a quick and nutritious meal after work while also serving as a casual gathering spot for community events.

Community-Centric Vision

Michel and Beck envision Penny’s as a welcoming venue for neighborhood activities, such as book clubs and mah jong tournaments, mirroring the hospitality spirit of Michel’s late mother, Pamela “Penny” Sexton. This commitment to community engagement underscores the café’s mission to create more than just a dining destination, but also a hub for social interaction and connection.

Future enhancements for Penny’s include the installation of a partial waterproof bamboo roof, all-weather tents, string lights, planters, and a gated entrance from East Main Street, making the café accessible and inviting for patrons throughout the year.

Operational Details

Penny’s operates Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., providing ample opportunity for locals to stop by. An online menu is also available at pennyslex.com for those interested in exploring the café’s offerings in advance.

As Chef Ouita Michel and Angela Beck bring their long-discussed collaboration to life, Penny’s at Pomegranate promises to become a beloved staple in Lexington’s vibrant dining scene, blending culinary excellence with local textile art.

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Additional Resources

• Kentucky.com: New Restaurant Opening
• Kentucky.com: Restaurant News
• AOL: Local Brewery Opening
• New York Times: Best New NYC Restaurants
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Culinary Tourism