Lexington restaurant to change name, shift focus to being ‘premier steakhouse’
A spot in Lexington that has rotated through a couple different restaurant concepts in recent years is set for another change.
Southern Smoked Tavern and Steakhouse, which opened in August at 924 E Main St. close to downtown Lexington, is set to change both the focus of its menu and its name, according to a post to the restaurant’s Facebook. The new name will be announced soon.
The bar and eatery, operated by the locally based Happy Fork restaurant group that also operates the Chophouse of Chapin and Bakon Southern Eatery in the Chapin Commons development, will now set its sights on being “Lexington’s premier steakhouse,” Happy Fork CEO and owner Ron Pereira details in the post.
“As much as I love bbq, nachos, and smash burgers, myself and my team are better suited to focusing on high quality steaks, locally sourced seafood, fine spirits, tons of great wine, and most importantly five-star service,” Pereira says.
He additionally promises that the changes at the restaurant will include new management and a new “five-star chef,” who will deliver “house aged steaks, house dry aged steaks, locally sourced Wagyu steaks, steak variety butcher blocks, great locally sourced seafood, tapas, live music, Columbia’s best happy hour with $5 Buffalo Trace, an extensive selection of $20 bottles of wine, half off our entire wine list, and much more.”
“No, we’re not going to be crazy expensive,” the CEO says. “Yes, good food isn’t free, however all of our concepts are priced significantly less than other restaurants using the same quality fresh ingredients. Yes, we plan on remaining very casual.”
Pereira adds that they will be heavily investing into creating a better atmosphere, upgrading lighting, bathrooms and the patio area and adding “a private dining room capable of hosting approximately 40 people for corporate events, rehearsal dinners, and monthly five-course wine dinners.”
The restaurant will remain open during the changes, with current hours running from 4 to 10 p.m. daily, with brunch being served Friday-Sunday from 11a.m. to 3 p.m.
“No, we’re not closing down,” Pereira says. “You’re stuck with me for at least 9 more years according to my lease.”
This is the second time that Southern Smoked has announced big changes this year, having previously launched a new menu in May, adding brunch and shifting the restaurant’s focus away from smoked meats to put a greater emphasis on its steaks, a trend that seems to be continuing.
The spot at 924 E Main St., located in a small shopping center that also includes the Lexington location of the Midtown Fellowship church, has rotated through a few concepts in recent years, with Pereira being a part of most of them.
Longstanding Cayce restaurant The Kingsman opened a second location there in 2016 before splitting with chef/co-owner Henry Griffin in 2020. Griffin teamed with Happy Fork to create the fancier Griffin Chophouse before the new concept ultimately split off from the local restaurant group. When Griffin Chophouse shuttered in March 2023, Happy Fork moved in with Southern Smoked, initially hoping to follow the Lexington restaurant with a second location in Chapin Commons, though that never came to pass.
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