14 minute read
Special Section
Now that warm weather has fi nally joined us, there’s nothing better than sitting on a breezy patio and enjoying your favorite cocktail or appetizer at one of our local restuarants.
Whether it’s for brunch with your girlfriends, a business lunch or a weekend date night, there’s just something about a patio that feels oh so right during the summer season.
CARSON’S
859.309.3039 | carsonsfoodanddrink.com
Patios
What draws people to your patio? There is nothing quite like Carson’s Chicken & Waffles and a round of mimosas with great friends while relaxing on our beautiful patio. With our’s being one of the only patios on Main Street, the life of the city is right next to you as you enjoy a friendly reunion or romantic evening, making patio season THE time to visit Carson’s! Tell us a little bit about Carson’s offerings and ambiance. We offer a variety of elevated American cuisine. With savory burgers, fresh salads, juicy steaks and seafood, there’s a little something for everyone. Every dish we offer is sizable and flavorful, and just hits the spot. Not to mention our marvelous selection of bourbons and ryes! Grab a drink, pull up a chair and relax in our refined speakeasy setting. What is the most popular dish on the menu for patio season? What drink would you pair with it? Patio weather always brings out a hunger for ribs, and its hard to find a better set of ribs than our “Sweet & Spicy Ribs”; Tender ribs coated in our house Sriracha Bourbon BBQ sauce with sesame seeds and jalapeño slices. Pairing this with any of our Draught Beers or our “Classic Woodford Rye Old Fashioned” is a sure way to have a great time!
favorite menu item
We love going here for their... Chicken and Waffl es during brunch!
favorite cocktail
We love going here for their... Woodford Rye Old Fashioned!
What do you expect will be popular specials this summer?
We have our “Old Fashioned Happy Hour” from 3 to 6pm ($2 off Appetizers, Well Drinks, and Draughts) and our fabulous new selection of Seasonal Cocktails; including such favorites as “the Bourbon Smash”, “the Sweet & Spicy Pineapple Martini” and “the Passion Fruit Martini”. We can’t wait to see you there!
Patios MI PEQUENA ~
HACIENDA
859.245.4679 | Nicholasville: 859.309.3840 mipequenahacienda.com
favorite menu item
favorite cocktail
SERVING CENTRAL KENTUCKY SINCE 1996!
Lexington’s fun, festive, casual neighborhood restaurant is open and ready to serve you! Mi Pequeña Hacienda’s patio is perfect for gathering with amigos or stopping in for a casual lunch during the workday or weekend. Known for its relaxed dining experience and great family atmosphere, the Mi Pequeña Hacienda patio at the Lansdowne Drive location offers guests more to love with ample outdoor seating to enjoy all season long! Enjoy the best in authentic Mexican food with a Baja Californian fl air, freshly prepared sauces and salsas, and warm hospitality on our colorful patio with 2-for-1 margaritas Tue-Thur-Sun from 5 to close. Now offering our new brunch menu at both locations 11-2 every day! Don’t forget to visit our Brannon Crossing location for a totally different experience!
Patios
WILD EGGS
859.543.0532 | 859.277.0402 wildeggs.com
favorite menu item
We love going here for their... Kalamity Katie’s Border Benedict!
favorite cocktail
We love going here for their... Award Winning Bloody Mary!
Is the Wild Eggs patio... wild? We have two great Lexington locations and actually, the ambiance on our patio is relaxing, warm and welcoming. Plants and fl owers surround the patio tables and large umbrellas provide shade. Our patio is full service, with the same great service and cuisine that we serve up indoors.
What is your restaurant’s objective? Our well-trained staff consistently delivers innovative dishes that offer a fresh, contemporary approach to breakfast, brunch and lunch. We are a family-oriented restaurant with menu items for everyone. What are some of your most popular menu offerings? Our most popular dish is our Kalamity Katie’s Border Benedict. Paired with a tequila sunrise made with our fresh squeezed orange juice, it makes an unmatched breakfast experience for someone who loves to dine with fl air.
What’s new?
Come enjoy our award winning bloody-mary or some fresh squeezed orange juice makes for the best mimosa in town! We now offer new salads and sandwiches for lunch, plus online ordering for take-out! We are also now taking online reservations and call-ahead seating.
favorite menu item
We love going here for their... Spring Beet Salad: whipped capriole goat cheese, pistachios, local strawberries & Kentucky mint!
Patios
HONEYWOOD
859.469.8234 | HoneywoodRestaurant.com
As a Kentucky-forward bistro that focuses on local ingredients and boasts a beautiful setting, Honeywood is the perfect place to experience all that an outdoor Lexington dining experience has to offer. Our patio is a lovely place to stop while shopping at the Summit at Fritz Farm,” Honeywood’s staff said. “Enjoy a full bar, including delicious craft cocktails, a captivating wine list and local beer. We also offer snacks or you can enjoy a whole meal. Regardless of what you order, it will become clear just how important local, fresh ingredients are to Honeywood. The highest-quality produce fi nds its way into every dish and drink. “Our staff farmer, David Wagoner, curates a small herb garden for our bar and kitchen, including bay leaves, mint, oregano, sweet Annie, chives, edible fl owers, basil, thyme, and more,” said the staff.
Patios
ROOSTERS
Richmond Rd: 859.554.7124 | South Lexington: 859.271.9464 | Georgetown: 502.570.9464 roosterswings.com
favorite menu item
We love going here for their... wings with Nashville Hot dry rub!
favorite drinks
We love going here for their... 16 beers on tap!
Tell us all about Roosters!
Roosters is a family restaurant with a huge menu; we’re known for our wings and chicken, but we have so much more! We offer a fun, casual atmosphere with a full bar. We have two locations in Lexington – 2640 Richmond Road and 124 Marketplace Drive – and one in Georgetown – 114 Marketplace Circle!
Give us the details on your patios. There are covered and uncovered options, depending on the sunshine, and TVs outside. At our Richmond Road and Georgetown locations, enjoy a bar outside, as well! What do most people order when they’re out on your patios? Lots of our guests keep it simple: they order boneless wings and a local craft beer. There are 16 draft beers at each location, so you’re sure to fi nd something you love!
Do you have any specials? Sure sure do! We offer a special on Mondays with 79 cent boneless wings all day! There’s no better time to come – and bring a friend!
Patios
HARRY’S AMERICAN BAR & GRILL
859.335.6500 | BluegrassHospitality.com
Harry’s American Bar & Grill, a Lexington staple known for its contemporary American fare and extensive drinks menu, boasts a patio that can be enjoyed year round — with an open-air atmosphere during warm weather months and an encased glass facade for cooler months.
“Whether visiting for a leisurely lunch or dinner, winding down after work or catching your favorite team on one of the flatscreen TVs, Lexingtonians love our patios,” the Harry’s team explained.
As a tribute to Kentucky’s rich horse racing history, it’s hard to imagine a better place to spend a perfect Lexington meal than at either of Harry’s two locations, which are also home to Aqua sushi, an infamous offering of signature cocktails and hand-picked wines. Find them in the Palomar Shopping Center or in Hamburg and be prepared for an unforgettable patio dining experience.
Patios
DRAKE’S
859.335.6500 | DrakesComePlay.com
Drake’s is a restaurant that loves beer and a bar that loves food. With over 20 craft beers on tap, big burgers and the freshest sushi in town, it’s no wonder that Drake’s is a perennial patio season favorite among locals!
What’s their best dish? “It’s hard to pick one! The Baked Lava Roll is one of our newest sushi rolls with crab and avocado rolled in seaweed and sushi rice, then topped and baked with a spicy crab salad, spicy mayo, sushi sauce, tempura crunch and green onions,” the Drake’s team says. “Pair it with one of Drake’s specialty craft cocktails. We release a new menu every season and the summer cocktail list is made for patio hangs!” Drake’s offers something for everyone! Burgers and sushi, craft beer and cocktails, which you can enjoy on indoor and outdoor patios. They have garage doors that go up in the summer and a fire roaring in the winter for year-round enjoyment. Visit Drake’s in Branon Crossing, Hamburg and the Lansdowne Shoppes; and stay tuned for a new location opening on Leestown Rd later this year!
Patios CRÚ
859.971.9463 | cruwinebar.com
Crú offers upscale dining with dishes designed to provide something for everyone. They provide a wide range of choices, including Wagyu Meatballs, Lobster and Shrimp Potstickers, Stone Fired Pizzas, Brussel Sprout and Arugula Salad, and Filet Mignon, to name a few. Guests especially love the Pear and Gorgonzola Pizza paired with a “Patio Weather White” flight of wine during patio months!
With plenty of space right in the heart of The Summit, their patio is a cozy, relaxed spot with heaters and a fire pit. It’s always pet-friendly, as well! Weekends are better with Crú. They are open for brunch at Noon on Saturday and Sunday.
Want to stay in the know? Sign up for email alerts on all of their wine tasting events and holiday specials – and enjoy a free entrée on your birthday!
Patios SEDONA TAPHOUSE
859.221.5500 | SedonaTaphouse.com
Sedona Taphouse — which boasts one of Lexington’s most extensive beer, wine and cocktail lists along with an elevated food menu — is the perfect place to treat yourself to an outdoor dining experience (and don’t forget, groups are welcome). With firepits, TVs, covered areas, live music, a deal-loaded happy hour —plus great food and great drinks, of course — guests can bask in plenty of summer vibes while enjoying the Southwestern-tinged contemporary American fare. Classic brunch staples like Nutella french toast are complemented with innovations like “Desert Fire” stuffed jalapeños. The infamous STH Burger goes perfectly with the venue’s 47 rotating beers on tap. And entrees like the bourbon pork chop are paired with dozens of cocktails and an extensive wine list.
It’s an experience you won’t soon forget.
favorite sips
We love going here for their... wonderful wines! Afterglow, Moondance and Southern Rosé are some of our faves!
Patios
TALON WINERY
859.971.3214 talonwine.com
Who will love your patio? We have tons of beautiful, open space for large groups with great photo-ops! It’s great for a fi rst date or a girls night.
With over 20 wines, there’s something for everyone! People can bring their own food and just hang out and “wine down.” It’s chic and Southern at the same time.
What’s happening among the vines? We have free live music every Friday 6-9 and Saturday 4-7 from local and surrounding area artists. Bring extra chairs or picnic blankets because our tables fi ll up fast! You’re welcome to bring your own food to enjoy with our award winning wines.
What is your most popular warm-weather wine? Our Southern Rosé is this summer’s must-have sip! Pair it with some charcuterie to make your picnic pop.
Patios THE GROVE
502.694.2576 thegrovelex.com
favorite menu item
We love going here for their... Luna Pimento Cheese Sliders!
favorite cocktail
We love going here for their... Tequila Mockingbird: Jose Cuervo Silver Tequila, blackberry brandy, lime juice, simple syrup and Jarritos grapefruit soda!
RELAXED VIBES MEET A METAMORPHIC ATMOSPHERE AT THE GROVE.
Fusing the best of brews, cocktails and wine with charcuterie, food-truck eats and private events, The Grove is not just Lexington’s newest eclectic hot spot. It’s a revelry hub, a micro-community that bolsters small businesses and an archetype for commerce.
Open Wednesday through Sunday 7:30am-1am and Saturday & Sunday 8am-1am, The Grove offers multiple experiences in one, right in the heart of Downtown. Enjoy sharable snacks and delicious bites from Luna in the evening or weekend brunch. They’re perfect for enjoying alongside the craft cocktails, wine and beer available in the beer garden. Reserve the cabana for a special, intimate night for up to 20. Check out Nate’s Coffee Hideaway located in the Melodeon, which serves as a coffee shop by day and an event space by night!
Patios
FIDDLETREE KITCHEN & BAR
859.544.1011 | fiddletreekitchen.com
Fiddletree Kitchen & Bar offers an upscale yet casual and upbeat environment. They serve up Southern hospitality and elevated comfort food. With breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner offerings, as well as a lovely cocktail menu, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Fiddletree’s on staff Bourbon Steward loves to mix things up!
The patio offers covered table seating as well as open-air couch seating with fire pits. The space is set back from the main road and beautifully landscaped for a lush experience. Guests can always enjoy music, whether it’s playing from their music system or it’s live entertainment. Check the Elwood Hotel’s website to see a live music schedule.
Reservations can be made on Opentable.com for parties of 8 people or less. Patio availability is based on weather. photo by Alyssa Rosenheck
ELWOOD HOTEL & SUITES
The World’s First Plant-Friendly Hotel
Drive up to Elwood Hotel & Suites and the first thing you’ll notice is the stunning building mural of flowers and plants. The plant theme is carried through to the public areas which feature additional murals and plenty of greenery — including a huge fiddle-leaf fig plant (the restaurant is named Fiddletree Kitchen & Bar). So it should come as no surprise that the world’s first plant-friendly hotel has also launched a plant-friendly package.
The Gardener’s Premier Corner Room Package includes a stay in one of the property’s six king suites specifically chosen for their abundance of plant-friendly natural light. The package includes lush Instagrammable greenery in the room from Pemberton’s Greenhouses, a complimentary potted succulent as a gift to take home and many more amenities.
Guests are welcome to check in to the hotel with their own house plants as well. Elwood Hotel & Suites is also pet friendly. To carry on the plant theme, Fiddletree Kitchen & Bar features a plant-focused cocktail: the Garden Mojito made with blackberry syrup, fresh herbs, and edible flowers. Learn more at: theelwoodhotel.com •
HealthWhen you’re looking for a healthy, fresh dining MindedMunchies option, your fi rst thought probably wouldn’t be a pizza joint. But Mellow Mushroom proves that you can have a fi lling, health-conscious lunch or dinner without skimping on fl avor.
Salads are an obvious choice when you’re looking for something bright and light. Mellow
Mushroom’s “Greens” menu is full of options that are made with fresh ingredients and hand-chopped daily. These salads will delight your senses and feed your head. We love the
Enlightened Spinach Salad (fresh spinach topped with dried cherries, apples, house-made candied pecans and authentic sheep’s milk feta cheese) because it’s a tasty option that happens to be vegetarian (and they’ll gladly make it vegan for you).
But don’t think the deliciousness stops with salads. There are lots of great options on their menu, from their Bruschetta (diced tomatoes, basil and seasonings tossed in balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Topped with authentic sheep’s milk feta cheese and fresh basil, served on garlic toast points, and drizzled with a balsamic glaze) to cocktails like the Jam n’ Juice (Maker’s Mark
Bourbon, Aperol, Cherry, Cranberry & Fresh
Lime).
And just because you’re eating light doesn’t mean you have to skip the pizza altogether. Mellow
Mushroom’s Build Your Own Pie option allows you total control over what you have. Their offer gluten-free crust and vegan cheese if that’s your thing!
