Lexington’s Jefferson Street dining corridor continues to expand as County Club restaurant prepares to open this Spring at 555 N. Jefferson, down the street from Nick Ryan’s, Grey Goose, Wine + Market, and around the corner from West Sixth Brewing. (Wine + Market opened on Good Friday, five years ago, in 2008, kicking off the neighborhood renaissance.) The restaurant is “committed to exploring and expanding the American tradition of smoking meats using hardwoods and low temperatures. It examines barbecue classics by utilizing responsibly raised Kentucky cow, hog, sheep, goat, and chicken while applying flavor traditions from around the world.”
Furlong’s (formerly at Main and Ashland before selling to Onizim’s, which closed)Â is in the process of refurbishing the former Corky’s BBQ location on W. Tiverton and expects to open mid-April. (Coles on Main is now in the former Furlong’s location at Ashland and Main and celebrated its first birthday on April 2, 2013).
House, Food and Wine will be at 207. South Limestone offering “casual, upscale, affordable” fare. They’ve been posting teaser photos of menu items like steak and fries, and pasticho, a Venezuelan lasagna-like dish.
At the corner of Limestone and Short Street, in the former Mia’s location (and what was briefly Rosetta, which opened and closed in 2012) will be The Jax (101 W. Short). Chef Natalie Blake, a cheftestant on Season 9 of Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen (a former sous chef at Harrodsburg’s Beaumont Inn) will be part of the crew. They plan to offer “globally inspired, locally infused cuisine, cocktails & culture, and fresh locally sourced ingredients.” (They will also pour Lexington’s Nate’s Coffee.)
Palmers Fresh Grill and Wine Bar has announced an April 15, 2013 opening in Lexington Green in the former Regatta location.
Heavenly Ham recently moved out of its location at Lexington Green (between Joseph-Beth and Whole Foods) and is now open in its new Regency Road location.
Saul Good is slated to open its third Lexington restaurant Fall 2013 in Victorian Square downtown.
West Sixth Brewing will celebrate its first birthday on Friday April 5, 2013 with a new beer, two food trucks, and five firkins. West Sixth opened its doors one year ago, serving four beers out of their tap room on the corner of 6th and Jefferson. In May 2012, they began distributing their beer throughout Central Kentucky. In June they began distributing their beer to the Louisville area and doubled their capacity. In January 2013, West Sixth began distributing their second beer, the West Sixth Amber, and also began distributing to Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati.  Now they have 9 beers on tap in that same tap room.
They will release a new beer, the Saison Bellaire, and will have 5 different firkins of beer available only on Friday. They’ll have cupcakes for everyone, and a special limited-release pint glass that will be available for free for anyone who stops by, while supplies last.
Blue Stallion Brewing looks to join Lexington’s now thriving craft brew scene in Spring 2013, at 610 West Third.
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