By Patrick O’Dowd
Stella’s Kentucky Deli has been a staple of downtown Lexington’s restaurant scene thanks to its weekday lunch and weekend brunches, but recently the deli has expanded its horizons with the addition of dinner and happy hour offerings.
Located on 143 Jefferson Street, Stella’s is one of the original restaurants and businesses to kick off the recent boom of growth in that area and downtown Lexington’s current Jefferson Street Renaissance. The old yellow Victorian-turned-restaurant features a menu that focuses on local food and supporting the local economy in a way that comes across home cooked—except better and without all the pesky hard work on your part.
Up until now, the menu had been dominated by sandwiches, soups, and salads but Stella’s new dinner service has now allowed the restaurant to open itself up to more hearty offerings. Lexingtonians and visitors alike can find dishes like a ‘Stone Cross Farm Pork Loin’ featuring a bourbon and Ale-8 sauce, Shrimp & Grits, Truffled Mac & Cheese, Hot Browns (including a vegetarian option for the herbivores), as well as less common items around town like the Beef Stroganoff, all of which can be had at prices reasonably ranged between $10-$16. Additionally, there are a handful of burger choices where the Lamb Burger stands king.
Even more exciting—given the onset of summer—is the addition of happy hour from 4pm to 7pm when customers can enjoy 2-1 drinks. Stella’s new happy hour bar carries a healthy selection of beer, wine, and a collection of cocktails including the ‘J-Street Rose’ consisting of gin, geranium syrup, and cucumber slices that might be just what’s needed to cool off and relax on Stella’s side patio.
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