If there’s one thing Lexingtonians have always done well, it’s food. Take a trip down memory lane as we spotlight the five oldest restaurants in town — plus the menu items that have kept locals coming back for generations.
- Columbia Steak House, 201 N. Limestone | Raise your hand if you’ve had a “Nighthawk” special. This local steakhouse has been serving garlic-butter steaks, Diego salads, baked potatoes, and honey-butter rolls for decades. Now with three locations, the original North Limestone spot opened in 1948 and has welcomed sports legends, presidents, governors, and more.
- Thoroughbred Restaurant, 1483 Leestown Rd. | Serving home-cooked comfort food since 1954, this long-running restaurant is Bluegrass through and through. Arguably home to one of the best Hot Browns in town, you can always count on the classics — or switch it up as the menu rotates.
- Burgers Shakes, 219 E. New Circle Rd. | Burgers, shakes, and they don’t break the bank... need we say more? This quick service, walk-up burger joint opened in 1957 and it’s still a local favorite. It’s classic menu includes burgers, a fish sandwich, a chicken sandwich, dogs, a grilled cheese, fries, and shakes.
- Joe Bologna’s, 120 W. Maxwell St. | Joe Bologna opened the restaurant in 1973 before moving to its iconic synagogue location in 1989. Bologna retired in early 2025 and the restaurant is under new ownership, but operations remain the same — including the essential menu items. Two words... giant breadsticks. If you know you know, and Lexingtonians are big fans of Joe B’s classic breadstick served in it’s own dish with garlic butter. Fun fact: Ashley Judd’s father used to work for the restaurant, and she’s an occasional visitor.
- The Merrick Inn, 1074 Merrick Dr. | Long before it became a dining destination, this spot played a role in Lexington’s horse country history. Built before the Civil War and later remodeled in the 1930s, The Merrick Inn has spent the last 50+ years serving refined Southern cuisine. Pro tip: Locals have sworn by the fried chicken for decades.
Within the past few years Lexington has lost major contenders to this list including Parkette Drive-In, which was open for over 70 years before it closed in in the summer of 2022, Tolly-Ho, which recently closed at the end of 2025, and Max’s Loudon Square Buffet.
