Breakfast guide: Here are 12 places off the beaten path to try in, around Lexington
Lexington and Central Kentucky has an abundance of popular eateries where we can go for what is customarily the first meal of the day for most of us. From sophisticated bistros to neighborhood coffee shops, to the independents and the casual and fast casual chains.
We all have our personal favorites.
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But for those of us wanting something a little more adventurous, breakfast does not have to be ordinary — when you know where to go.
How about a road trip?
Whether it is right down the road, or an hour away, get ready to add a little adventure to your next breakfast outing.
The next time you want to try a quirky place that delivers an atmosphere and experience that is unique and off the beaten path, look no further.
Here is a guide to 12 fun options for tasty morning food that you need to check out, presented in an alphabetical list. A sampling of their respective menu items is included. For a complete accounting of their full menu items, consult their website or visit them soon.
Biancke’s Restaurant
102 S. Main St. in Cynthiana, 859-234-3443, bianckes1894.com
Breakfast Hours: Monday–Saturday 7 to 11 a.m.; Sunday 9 to 11 a.m.
Biancke’s is a Cynthiana landmark and the second-oldest continuously operating restaurant in the Commonwealth. (The oldest is the Old Talbott Tavern in Bardstown.)
Their story begins when Guido Biancke immigrated from Italy to Kentucky to become an apprentice at his brother-in-law’s fruit and vegetable stand more than 125 years ago. But it certainly doesn’t end there.
They have been serving satisfying home-style meals since 1894.
Count the late TV personality/cultural icon Dick Clark among those who have dined at Biancke’s through the years. He and his wife enjoyed an order of country ham and biscuits there during a visit on Easter in the early 1990s. His photo and a personal note are displayed on the wall.
Best-selling breakfast items include a variety of three-egg omelets such as the Local Favorite (choice of meat and cheese), the Western, Philly Steak, Philly Chicken, Cheese, or Veggie. Omelets are served with hash browns or home fries and toast or biscuits.
If you are ravenous, go for the Big Boy Breakfast consisting of three eggs cooked to order, choice of a full slice of country ham, or two pork tenderloins, or hamburger steak or their heavenly fried catfish: with hash browns or home fries, toast or biscuits, and a cup of sausage gravy.
There is also a Breakfast Hot Brown consisting of your choice of ham, bacon, or sausage on top of Texas toast, topped with home fries and sausage gravy. Served with two eggs on top.
Broadway Café at Bargains on Broadway
26 E. Broadway St. in Winchester, 859-644-5193, facebook.com/bargainsonbroadwayandcafe
Breakfast Hours: Monday-Saturday 7 to 10:30 a.m.; Closed Sunday.
Established in 2015, the Broadway Café located inside Bargains on Broadway in downtown Winchester is a family-owned business that offers “good food at affordable prices,” says owner Robert Pritchett.
This combination hometown café, bargain bin, and auction house offers an array of breakfast specials six days a week including the “Big Country Breakfast,” featuring country-fried steak; the “Winchester Special,” breaded chicken, eggs, and sausage gravy over a biscuit; the “Build Your Own Omelet,” and much more.
Before or after your meal you can browse the numerous racks and stacks of the latest retail offerings, and the latest bargains on sale throughout the store.
C&P Market/Grill
1000 Manchester St., 859-231-9040, facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063623647576
Hours: Monday-Friday 5-11 a.m.; closed Saturday-Sunday
Long before behemoth big-box grocery store chains began dominating our neighborhoods, small, family-owned and operated corner groceries and markets were common fixtures in the community.
Located at the corner of Manchester and Perry Street in Lexington’s historic Distillery District, C&P Market/Grill has been in business for more than 50 years and is a welcome throwback to the past.
They open for breakfast at the crack of dawn, and it is the type of place where you can still shoot the breeze and shoot a game of pool on the well-used pool table. There is also a vintage working jukebox.
In researching customer reviews, my favorite is, “Don’t have to be fancy to be good.” True indeed. Fair enough.
Head in for some friendly conversation and a host of popular breakfast sandwiches, including the over-the-top “Whole Hog” Breakfast Sandwich (egg, bologna, sausage, bacon, ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, served on toast or a bun; or sample the “Big Breakfast” (two eggs, two sausages, biscuits and gravy.) Did I mention their grilled honey buns?
If your heart health is not a concern, try the Double Sausage, Bacon, Egg and Cheese sandwich. There’s even a BLT and a Bologna and Egg sandwich available and most items are priced very wallet friendly at only a few dollars each.
Castle Farm at the Kentucky Castle
230 Pisgah Pike in Versailles, 859-256-0322, thekentuckycastle.com
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., daily
Enjoying breakfast inside the walls of a castle doesn’t only have to happen in fairy tales or in England or Scotland. Head to Woodford County where you can have breakfast at a 50-year-old castle at Castle Farm at the Kentucky Castle, only a few minutes down the road from Keeneland.
According to Christie Eckerline, the Castle’s chief operating officer, you can’t go wrong with the fried chicken biscuit. It’s made with a house-made white cheddar biscuit, fried chicken, country ham, mornay sauce, heirloom cherry tomatoes and arugula.
“Our breakfast and brunch are also a great opportunity for anyone to enjoy the Kentucky Castle. Guests of Castle Farm can come out to enjoy a wonderful meal, but they also get to check out the castle itself and to see the gardens and grounds.”
Other available items include a White Chocolate & Macadamia Nut Waffle, the Smoked Brisket Benedict, Country Ham & Brie, and the Pork Carnitas Hash, and more.
Dixie Cafe & Quick Stop
108 Keene-South Elkhorn Rd. in Keene, 859-885-0191, thedixiecafekeeneky.com
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Closed Sunday-Monday
The Dixie Café & Quick Stop, located 10 miles from Lexington in nearby Keene in Jessamine County, traces its roots to the original Dixie Café opened in Borger, Texas, by Dixie Alexander and husband, Ed, in the early 1950s.
After moving from Texas to Kentucky a few years earlier, Ed’s son, Lynn, and daughter, Kasi, continued the family tradition in March of 2010, opening a Kentucky version, showcasing the family’s time-honored Texas recipes.
“Folks enjoy the drive out to our café because of the rolling hills, horse farms, and country landscape,” notes Lynn Alexander. “Our customers can enjoy their meal on our back deck, which overlooks Clear Creek. We have a beautifully decorated facility with a warm and inviting atmosphere.”
You are not leaving hungry. Here is an example of what you can expect to choose from:
The Breakfast Platter with two eggs of any style, including choice of breakfast meat, served with Dixie Fried Potatoes or Cheese Grits and choice of a biscuit or Texas toast.
The Pancake Platter with two eggs any style, choice of three buttermilk, pecan, blueberry, or strawberry pancakes, topped with whipped cream and served with butter and syrup and a side of breakfast meat.
Three Egg Scramble where you design your own custom scramble. Served with up to five ingredients (city ham, bacon, turkey bacon, sausage, turkey sausage, cheese (Swiss/cheddar), tomato, onion, green pepper, tortilla chips, salsa) with choice of Dixie Fried Potatoes or Cheese Grits and choice of Texas toast or a biscuit.
Fava’s of Georgetown
159 E. Main St. in Georgetown, 502-863-4383, Favas1910.com
Breakfast Hours: Monday-Sunday 8 to 11 a.m.; with limited breakfast items 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
From its humble beginnings as a popular confectionary, historic Fava’s of Georgetown has been feeding hungry folks from around Central Kentucky since 1910, when William Howard Taft was president. It is the fifth oldest restaurant in Kentucky.
Over the past 113 years, several different families have owned and operated the bustling business. From what Louis “Louie” and Aunt “Susie” Bertolini Fava began, current owners Steven Wiglesworth and Harold Dean Jessie continue today.
According to Steven, top sellers include the light and fluffy old-fashioned buttermilk pancakes and “Your Grandpa’s Favorite,” consisting of two eggs, choice of sausage, bacon, or city ham, and hash browns or home fries, and toast or biscuits.
The Breakfast Burrito might also tempt you with scrambled eggs, city ham, bacon, sausage, onions, peppers, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and choice of hash browns or home fries.
Keeneland Track Kitchen
4201 Versailles Road, 859-280-2449, keeneland.com/visiting-keeneland#track-kitchen
Hours: Monday-Friday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 6 to 11 a.m.
If there is truly a “hidden gem” in Lexington for breakfast, Keeneland’s Track Kitchen is it. Open year-round except for federal holidays.
Keeneland opened in 1936 and according to Track Kitchen manager Jack Hickam, some years later, the Track Kitchen became the go to place for barn workers, horse trainers, owners, jockeys and patrons alike to get a hearty, freshly prepared comfort meal for the long hours at the racetrack. That tradition and spirit is kept alive to this day.
“We specialize in traditional southern comfort food. Our ‘Breakfast Special ‘offers a plentiful plate of breakfast staples. Your choice of bacon, sausage, or country ham. biscuit and gravy, eggs cooked to order, and a choice of fried potatoes, grits, or fried apples. All for an extremely great value.”
Regulars include horse trainers, jockeys, horse owners, veterinarians, grooms, racing fans, and just about anyone else associated with “the Sport of Kings,” except for the actual thoroughbreds themselves.
But you might catch a glimpse of a thoroughbred or two from the Track Kitchen’s front lobby windows if you’re lucky.
Keepsakes Diner Restaurant and Food Truck
5942 Lawrenceburg Rd. in Chaplin, 502-331-2419, facebook.com/Keepsakesdiner
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 7 to 11 a.m.; Closed Sunday to Tuesday
According to owner Naomi Lunsford, Keepsakes Diner, located in rural Nelson County, a short drive from multiple distilleries — and 45 minutes from Lexington — is so popular for breakfast because they offer low country prices and huge country portions.
“People who come in for the first time automatically become regulars and are already planning their next trip back. We also have had a country cooking food truck for 3 1/2 years. Both the restaurant and the food truck draw in people from all over Kentucky and the U.S. You will definitely leave having a sense that you are now part of our farming community.”
“Our loaded huge omelets are packed full of fresh veggies and all three meats. They are so large they fill up the entire plate.”
Don’t overlook the French Toast or the Biscuits and Gravy.
Solomon’s Porch Café & Catering
111 E. Main St. in Wilmore, 859-858-9060, solomonsporchwilmore.com
Breakfast Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8:30 to 11 a.m.; Closed Sunday. (Some brunch items such as breakfast sandwiches and quiche are available all day.)
It is the mission of Solomon’s Porch to minister to the community and many of the menu items are named based on aspects of the Bible. Even the name Solomon’s Porch itself is based on Acts 5:12.
Their breakfast offering is extensive, and they are known for their tasty breakfast sandwiches which are available all day long. The classic sandwich is made with two over-hard eggs and choice of cheese on an in-house baked croissant; customizable by adding bacon, sausage, or ham.
According to owner/operators Tim and Erin Gibson, this fall they will once again offer a popular seasonal special, the Maple Sriracha Breakfast Sandwich featuring two over-hard eggs, Swiss cheese, bacon, tomato, spinach, and a sweet maple sriracha sauce on a toasted plain bagel.
They also offer a variety of rotating in-house baked goods including muffins, cinnamon rolls, honey puff pastries, chocolate croissants, and homemade pop tarts, that pair well with their extensive coffee, tea and espresso menu.
The Barn Door Grill
4561 Iron Works Pike, 859-721-3527, bgregionalmarketplace.com/the-barn-door-grill-about
Breakfast Hours: Monday-Saturday 8 to 10:30 am; Closed Sunday.
How about breakfast served just a few feet away from the sales ring where many of the region’s top Holsteins, heifers, and hogs are routinely auctioned off? Here is your chance.
The Barn Door Grill was established in March of 2021 and is located inside the Bluegrass Stockyards Regional Marketplace, a bustling livestock auction house. The menu features southern-style comfort food.
Owners Renie Murphy and Danny McCray, know their way around the food, beverage and equestrian industry.
Menu favorites for breakfast are the French Toast and the Stallion Breakfast which includes two eggs any style with choice of meat (bacon or sausage.)
Don’t overlook the biscuits and gravy made with homemade gravy.
The Friendly Farmers Fridge
5715 Zaring Mill Rd. in Shelbyville, 502-931-6441, thefriendlyfarmersfridge.com
Hours: Saturday – Sunday 8:30 to 11 a.m. (Note: Check online; sometimes they drop breakfast but still do lunch.)
The Friendly Farmers Fridge is located on an actual working family farm in Shelbyville, Walnut Cliff Farm, that specializes in registered Royal White Hair Sheep.
It was launched in 2019 as a mobile local food grocery that traveled around Shelbyville delivering quality local food products.
In 2021, they introduced a roadside market on the farm and in 2023 opened their current restaurant and produce market.
According to owner Tom Abbott, the food is sourced from local farms and butchers, offering diners the freshest local products.
Customers rave about the fresh waffles, and the breakfast plate (eggs, choice of meat, biscuits and gravy, and grits or taters), and don’t pass up a double order of biscuits and gravy.
Is there anything better than a good old-fashioned hearty breakfast served up on a farm?
Wheeler Pharmacy
336 Romany Rd., 859-266-1131, WheelerPharmacy.com
Breakfast Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If you’re looking for a hot breakfast with a backdrop of nostalgia that includes a charming old-fashioned soda fountain, retro booths, and more than six decades of history, family-owned and operated Wheeler Pharmacy is the place for you.
William “Buddy” Wheeler opened the business in Lexington’s Chevy Chase neighborhood in January of 1958. He expanded the building in 1965, adding a grill and additional seating.
According to Buddy’s daughter, current owner and pharmacist Claire Wheeler Lewis, “Every (championship) winning UK basketball coach has enjoyed the Wheeler Pharmacy fountain. It is a casual atmosphere where everyone knows your name. Kind of like ‘Cheers,’ and the food is very good also.”
Just ask the many regulars — and don’t be surprised to discover Coach John Calipari seated next to you. He’s reportedly a fan.
There is a full breakfast menu including the popular country ham and biscuits. The fan favorites include their omelets and the hot off the grill pancakes, which are huge.
Do you have another off-beat breakfast restaurant in Kentucky to recommend? Reach me at foodwriter@earthlink.net.
Rob Bolson is a freelance writer residing in Lexington, Kentucky, who writes about food and culture. Follow him on Instagram at @robbiebolson .
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