One of Lexington’s newest places to eat and, especially in this case, belly up, the Jefferson Davis Inn is one of the first restaurants to emerge from the rubble on South Broadway amid the new housing and apartment complex developments on that busy thoroughfare.
Jefferson Davis Inn, or JDI Grille and Tavern (or just JDI) as it is being referred to, is not the reopening of the former bar that sat at the corner of West High and Limestone streets until closing in 1996. Instead, JDI is a tribute to that popular, bygone nightspot.
My guest and I, being too young to have experienced the original location, weren’t sure how faithful of a homage the new incarnation was; on its own, however, the new JDI, especially the building with its appealing and ample wood and brickwork throughout its three levels, will likely become an attractive haunt for people in the South Hill Neighborhood, most certainly for those from the college community. We went on a recent Tuesday evening, and the restaurant was full and boisterous, though I think the crowds gathering to watch the multitude of television screens and cheer on the UK women’s basketball team advance to the Sweet 16 had something to do with this.
The menu is a quick assortment of appetizers, with items such as chicken wings, beer cheese nachos and fried pickles (priced between $6 and $9); a few salads, including a wedge and salmon; a variety of burgers (priced between $9 and $11) and sandwiches, including chicken, fish, a rueben and a club (priced between $8 and $10); and entrees, which include fish and chips, a pulled pork dinner, steaks, pork chops, and chicken and waffles (priced between $11 and $19).
We started out with beer cheese nachos, which is an interesting regional spin on regular bar nachos, before ordering our entrees; my guest ordered the chicken and waffles, and I had a cajun pasta (andouille sausage and chicken in a heavy cream sauce). The food is on par with your standard pub grub, but we weren’t expecting a fine-dining, gourmet meal.
I thought the beer cheese nachos were the most interesting dish to hit our table, but maybe that’s because it was the first up, and I was hungry (I definitely didn’t leave hungry; the portions at JDI are very large). I do wish we had taken the opportunity to try the chicken wings, which can come with a number of “signature sauces” (like Thai sweet chili, mango habanero and even bourbon).
The bar has a number of quality, and affordable, beers on draft and a large selection of bourbon varieties (hopefully they’ll have a list available soon for the tables).
Our bill, prior to tipping came to just a hair under $60, and included an appetizer, two entrees, a dessert (bananas foster) and a few beers, a very reasonable price. If JDI can get a few of its new-restaurant kinks worked out (such as long wait times to be seated and see a server, and loud television volumes), it could be a nice spot for nibbling and socializing, especially on the patio, when the warmer weather rolls around.
Jefferson Davis Inn 319 Cedar St. (859) 246-0202 www.jeffersondavisinn.com 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Daily