05.24.2024

Today’s Forecast

81º | 24% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:20 a.m. | Sunset 8:49 p.m.

It’s easy eating green

Vegan and vegetarian eats in Lexington

A bowl filled with tofu, lettuce, edamame, and jalapenos

You won’t miss the meat with this protein packed Asian Bowl from East End Tap & Table. | Photo by East End Marketing

Eating meat-free hasn’t always been easy, but in Lexington, it’s a piece of (vegan) cake.

Our local food scene is as vibrant as ever, so it’s no surprise there are a slew of local chefs serving up fresh, vegetarian bites across town. From vegetarian BBQ to scrumptious vegan tacos, here are 20 restaurants serving up meat-free fare in Lexington.

A green smoothie bowl with blueberries, goji berries, and bee pollen — City Editor Molly loves The Mermaid Bowl at The Press. | Photo by LEXtoday

🧁 Satisfy your sweet tooth

The Press Juice & Health Bar, 191 Kentucky Ave. | From smoothies to juices, to salads + wraps, this Woodland neighborhood favorite is full of veggie power.

🍸 Date night

County Club, 555 Jefferson St. | Be sure to check the menu as it changes monthly, but you can expect to find vegetarian plates like seasonal soups, jalapeno pimento cheese dip, and a plant-based BBQ chicken sandwich.

East End Tap & Table, 333 E. Main St., Ste. 180 | This downtown American-international fusion spot has a menu full of veggie-forward options, like Sally’s Salad, a hummus plate, and the popular Asian Bowl with tofu.

A bowl filled with lettuce, tomatoes, chickpeas, cucumbers, and edamame — The fresh + filling Vegan Power salad from Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen. | Photo by @vinaigrettesalads

🍕 Casual eating

DV8 Kitchen, Various locations | This all-day breakfast joint has menu items like the Mediterranean vegetable sandwich, hot PB&J sandwich, and fresh salads. City Editor Molly loves the veggie curry tacos.

Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen, Various locations | Forks up for this filling salad menu with two completely vegan bowls — the Vegan Power Salad + Pharaoh Grain Bowl.

The Salad Bar, 2051 Richmond Rd. | Build-your-own salad — need we say more? Eat the rainbow by loading your plate with colorful fruit + veggie toppings like peppers, berries, tofu, and more.

Nourished Folks, 101 W. Loudon Ave. | This cozy cafe located at Greyline Station offers prepared food pick-up + a meal subscription service, as well as a new menu each week. Think: Veggie-filled salads, adaptable main courses, and rice bowls.

City Guides are presented by VisitLEX.

13 more recs this way

Asked

Have you eaten at a local vegetarian or vegan restaurant within the past month?

A. Yes
B. No, but I’ve considered it
C. No

Lettuce know

Events

Friday, May 24

Food Truck Fridays | Friday, May 24 | 6-9 p.m. | Shillito Park, 300 W. Reynolds Rd., Lexington | Free | Connect with fellow Lexingtonians at this family-friendly event featuring dozens of food truck vendors serving up snacks, beer, and cider.
Kevin Farley | Friday, May 24-Saturday, May 25 | Times vary | Comedy Off Broadway, 161 Lexington Green Cir., Unit C4, Lexington | $11-$20 | Get ready to giggle with the brother of late comedian Chris Farley who has had guest roles on shows such as “Drunk History” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Saturday, May 25

Early Learner Book Club | Saturday, May 25 | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Carnegie Center For Literacy & Learning, 251 W. 2nd St., Lexington | Free | Bring your busy toddlers ages 2-5 for a laid-back storytime with hands-on activities and an opportunity for free books.
Twilight In The Vines | Saturday, May 25 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Harkness Edwards Vineyards, 5199 Combs Ferry Rd., Winchester | $11-$44 | This outdoor tabletop experience will have you grazing on charcuterie + sipping wine amongst the vines as twilight begins to blanket the sky

Sunday, May 26

Double Donation Day for Woodford Humane Society | Sunday, May 26 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | J&H Outdoors, 189 Moore Dr., Lexington | Free | Shop for your favorite outdoor gear, and for every bag you choose not to take, J&H will double its normal donation to the humane society.
“Turning Red” | Sunday, May 26 | 3:30 p.m. | Kentucky Theatre, 214 E. Main St., Lexington | $7.31 | Celebrate the cultures of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders with storytime + a viewing of this Disney Pixar film hosted by Get HAAPI.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Seasonal

Experience a foal-filled weekend during a horse farm tour

a gif featuring images of horses, foals, and people interacting with them on a horse farm tour

Connect with horses, the land, and the people of Kentucky’s signature equine industry with a Horse Country farm tour. | Photos provided by Visit Horse Country; GIF by LEXtoday

Baby horses? Say no more. There is nothing quite as magical in Kentucky as getting up close with our beautiful horses. Lexingtonians are invited to experience all the baby cuteness they can handle during a farm tour.

Tours are available for all kinds of horse people, from newbies to enthusiasts. Want to create a custom itinerary? The Horse Country team can help — they aren’t horsing around when it comes to having a great time.

Book a tour

News Notes

Announced

New name, who dis? Thanks to a “transformational gift” from The Bill Gatton Foundation, Town Branch Park will now be called Gatton Park on the Town Branch. The funding will be spread out over several years beginning in 2025.

Civic

Wallet? Check. Keys? Check. Seatbelt? Double check. Law enforcement across Lexington will conduct more seatbelt patrols over the next few weeks as part of the Click It or Ticket campaign. Patrols will increase throughout the high-traffic Memorial Day weekend + continue through Sunday, June 2.

Community

There will be no city waste collection on Monday, May 27 due to the Memorial Day holiday. If that is your normal trash day, it will now be picked up on Wednesday, May 29.

Eat

The Jockey Bar, formerly known as Horse & Jockey, has reopened its kitchen and begun serving brunch + dinner. Stop by the downtown spot for classic bar fare like brats, burgers, and wings, as well as breakfast burritos and pancakes.

State

President Joe Biden + FEMA have approved federal disaster assistance to 11 counties in Kentucky affected by the early April storms. Fayette County residents can apply for funding to help with home repairs, temporary housing, and loans to cover property losses. (LEX18)

Award

Congratulations to the team at WEKU for winning three Edward R. Murrow Awards — Best Digital Site, Excellence in Writing, and Best Feature Reporting. Given out by the Radio Television Digital News Association, the awards honor outstanding achievements in electronic journalism. (WEKU)

Home

Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*

Development

Let me upgrade you

What’s in store for Phoenix Park

A short video with photos of renderings of a new park featuring trees, a stage, and playground equipment

While the footprint won’t expand at Phoenix Park, the amenities will get an upgrade. | Renderings courtesy of Lexington Parks & Recreation

The redevelopment of Phoenix Park is gaining traction after years of stagnation.

Yesterday, city officials kicked off construction for the reimagined space in the heart of downtown. This is roughly a year after initial plans + renderings were announced.

The park, located at the corner of Main Street + North Limestone across from City Center, has been a space for gather for 30+ years, paying homage to the home of the former Phoenix Hotel.

Once the $4.6 million in upgrades are completed — expected to be done in early 2025 —residents can expect to see:

New play equipment
An interactive fog area
Bench swings
Shade structures
A performance stage area
An improved dog park
Space for future public art

The Buy

Group A, The Buy 5.24.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

The ultimate kitchen appliance for summer: the Cuisinart 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker. No ice, salt, or hand-churning required — simply freeze the bowl and pour in your custom creation. We’re thinking black raspberry or chocolate chip…

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

Good news, Martine’s fans — the parking lot is expanding. But with construction taking place on Elm Tree Lane + Third Street, be sure to see use alternative routes like Main Street to Eastern Avenue or Winchester Road to Third Street.

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