Restaurant

Danville-Boyle County Economic Development Partnership and its partners announce the launch of a local dining survey. Given Danville is now home to more restaurants than ever, the EDP strives to make dining in Danville the best possible experience for visitors and residents alike. The survey focuses on specific dining experiences and should not take more than five minutes to complete. Listing your name and contact information is not required. Data from the survey will be shared with participating eateries in an effort to maximize the hospitality of dining in the community.

I heard over the Frankfort grapevine that the General Assembly, or some of those fat-cat Democrats, want to pass a law of taxing restaurants in order for someone or other to have a better quality of life. Well, I sure do need some improvement for myself, like a better automobile or more expensive house or a new wardrobe. Will it improve the water quality we folks in Junction receive from Danville? Who will receive a better quality of life if the three-cent tax is made or passed into life?

Comedy Caravan performers Mark Klein and Mack Dryden will perform a comedy show at 8 p.m. today at Mallard’s. Comedy Caravan began working with Mallard’s last September. Many of the nationally-touring comedians appear at Louisville’s Comedy Caravan and at Comedy off Broadway in Lexington. Tom Sobel of  Comedy Caravan said many of the previous shows in Danville have been fundraising events. He added he hopes to keep a steady stream of nationally-touring comedians coming to Danville.

A man was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head early Saturday morning after a fight broke out in the parking lot of Mi Pequena Hacienda Mexican restaurant in Brannon Crossing. A private, after-hours party was leaving the restaurant shortly after 2 a.m. when the fight broke out and "multiple rounds were fired from at least two different guns," according to a news release from the Nicholasville Police Department. Police have one person in custody and are looking for the other shooter, the release said.

Reno's Roadhouse of Danville reported the theft of six cases of beer today from its restaurant on Hustonville Road. City police said forced entry was gained to the building about 3:30 a.m. through a storage room. A witness reported four persons loading the beer into the trunk of a car. Stolen were four cases of Bud Lite and two cases of Michelob Ultra. Officer Sam Butler is investigating.

HARRODSBURG - Country star Eddie Montgomery plans to open a new restaurant in Harrodsburg. Mayor Lonnie Campbell said the singer, who lives in Perryville, chose to purchase 39 acres of land on the Harrodsburg bypass to accommodate the new 150,000-square-foot restaurant. Although not completely planned yet, the restaurant also may include a conference room and outdoor ampitheater, as well as some stores, the mayor said. The restaurant will be called Eddie Montgomery's Steakhouse and will be part of a development called Skylar's Landing, named for the singer's granddaughter, according to Montgomery.

Dear Editor, I have been reading in The Advocate-Messenger all the comments on tipping, so I thought I might give my opinion also. I would like to respond to the letter written by Bonnie Lowry. I too enjoy going out for a nice meal and being waited on, and I do know what it is like to be a server, I did it for a long time. I sympathize with these very hard workers. But the comment I would like to make is concerning the part where she said she checked the help wanted ads. It is true, for most jobs you have to have a degree or be a truck driver or whatever.

Jazzman Gourmet, a local restaurant that has ceased operation despite opening to great anticipation last month, will reopen under a new brand, the owner said today. Bart Mahan, the restaurant's owner, said "something will take place within the next 60 days" but could not comment further on the details. He also confirmed that the restaurant's executive chef and namesake, James "Jazzman" Baker, and general manager Jim Love are no longer associated with the company. Jazzman Gourmet opened at 120 April Way in early July and was immediately met with overflow crowds.

A Danville landmark vacant since last year is now home to a new restaurant being run by one of the city's newest elected officials. Off Broadway Cafe and Catering, which specializes in homestyle cooking, is now open in a downstairs dining room in the old Presbyterian church building on the corner of Broadway and Third streets. Owner Bernie Hunstad, who was just sworn in as Danville mayor, said the need for what the eatery will offer and his background in construction drew him to the unique architectural character of the building.

HARRODSBURG - A lunch stop turned into a crash Wednesday that sent a Burgin couple to the hospital and left a gaping hole in the front of Lee's Famous Recipe. Guilford Waggener, 82, and his wife, Nancy, 77, both of Waggener Drive, pulled into a parking spot in front of Lee's on U.S. 127 about 1:20 p.m. Harrodsburg police officer Tim Gambrel said Guilford Waggener thought he was pushing the brake when he pulled in but mashed the accelerator instead. The 1995 Plymouth van ran through the front of the restaurant.

When he was just a boy, Jeff Brewer dreamed of opening his own business, and now at age 59, he will have a second chance at success. Brewer opened his first store in Nonesuch in 2003. But after about four years, he and his wife, Barbara, realized that it was not bringing in enough money to make it worth their time. When Barbara died in 2009, Brewer was left with a void to fill. So today he is preparing to open a restaurant, and hoping for a better outcome. The Brewer's cafe will open at 116 S. Main St. in Nicholasville, offering sandwiches and other fare to the downtown population.

HARRODSBURG - WKYT-TV is reporting that Eddie Montgomery's Steakhouse closed unexpectedly Sunday night, citing a sign posted on the door. Co-owner Tracy Nunan also posted on the restaurant's Facebook page, which has since been taken down, that she was “sincerely sorry” to the employees for the lack of notice and quick closure, stating that it was “not within my control.” Calls to the restaurant today, as of press time, remained unanswered....

JUNCTION CITY - An old restaurant has received a new breath of life. The former Lovett's Family Restaurant now is home to Big Butts too BBQ. Owned by Thad Rich and Jordan Hardwick, the restaurant first opened April 9 and has gotten a “pretty good response,” according to Hardwick. “We've had some that are coming in every day, a few coming in saying they are already addicted to it,” Hardwick said. The secret to the barbecue, according to Rich, who is the main cook at the restaurant, is the time it takes to cook the meat, which varies but requires a slow process.

The Philips Lighting facility on Vaksdahl Avenue will be divided into two tracts.  The factory, which closed its doors in 2011, gained approval for the division Wednesday morning from the Danville-Boyle County Planning and Zoning Commission.  Director of Planning and Zoning Paula Bary said a representative of Philips told her he was not at liberty to discuss reasons for the split.  Last week a spokesman for Corning Inc. told The Advocate-Messenger...

Seth Collins and his family visited Winchester on Wednesday and surprised a young waitress with a rather generous tip. After Seth's brother, Aaron Collins, passed away last July, the family found in Aaron's will that he wanted them to give a waiter or a waitress an exceptional tip. Seth and his parents, Gerney and Tina Collins, of Lexington, raised the money and fulfilled the wish by giving $500 to a waitress at a pizza place. The waitress was absolutely astonished. Seth posted the video to YouTube and it went viral.

HARRODSBURG - New management and a renewed focus on its original mission statement is breathing fresh air in to Eddie Montgomery's Steakhouse. Jerry Houck took over as general manager in late December and since then has been “working to build the staff up to a level of service required to manage a restaurant of this caliber.” “The current staff have been very open to new ideas, new directions, different points of view and some drastic changes...

JUNCTION CITY - Authorities responded to a robbery Wednesday afternoon at the Hardee's restaurant on U.S. 127. Junction City Police Chief Merl Baldwin said a white male entered Hardee's, which is connected to a BP gas station, about 3:45 p.m. The man told the female employee behind the counter to give him all of the money in the cash register. Baldwin said the employee asked the robber if he was serious, and when he said he was, she gave him an undetermined amount of cash. The robber did not show or indicate he had a weapon.

One family has taken a long journey to come together to create a one-of-a-kind restaurant offering in downtown Danville. Pescara, next to the old Freddie's location on South Fourth Street, will serve homemade Mediterranean dishes and pizza.  The family is having a “soft-opening” today by invitation only, with the grand opening at 5 p.m. Saturday. Nebojsa Perosevic, who goes by “Nash,” moved to the U.S. from Montenegro to join the rest of his family two years ago. After having a hard time finding a job, Perosevic spoke to his in-laws and wife about opening their own business.

Hall's on the River restaurant wasn't closed for long. The seafood restaurant on Athens Boonesboro Road reopened just moments after successfully passing a Clark County Health Department inspection Monday evening with a score of 92. Environmental Health Program Manager Carlene Whitt of the Clark County Health Department called the change “almost miraculous.” The restaurant had been closed over the weekend after a former employee identified...

Hall's on the River restaurant was closed over the weekend, but its potential re-opening could come sometime this week. The seafood restaurant on Athens-Boonesboro Road was reportedly closed because of maintenance and cleanliness issues. A former employee identified as Chris Purvis shot video of bugs and mold in the restaurant and gave the footage to WKYT in Lexington. Environmental Health Program Manager Carlene Whitt of the Clark County Health Department said she inspected the building but did not close it. “I was down there in response to a complaint,” Whitt said.