Epping’s On Eastside: Where Energy and Sophistication Can Be Found on Your Dinner Plate
You can’t be all things to all people, but Epping’s On Eastside may just have found the recipe for success in pleasing everyone.
Owner Cole Arimes is no stranger to running successful restaurants. With Coles 735 Main in that enchanting 1930s-era space along with Poppy and Olive, a kid-friendly place with a bakery of utter delights, it only seemed fitting that Epping’s On Eastside bridge the gap between the two.
Located in the downtown Lexington Warehouse Block in the renovated building that once contained Epping Bottle Works (that’s where the name comes from, FYI), you can feel the energy from this beautiful space. The atmosphere is one of sophistication, yet it exudes the kind of warmth you feel when you visit family. As such, we found it to be the perfect place for a date because it’s got that heady, cozy and romantic vibe.
But if you’d like to check it out with a larger group, you’ll fit right in. There’s also a private room for rent if you’d like to host a party. If you’re thinking about that, you’ll definitely want to come taste the food and be prepared to fall in love with it which is a good thing since they also offering catering.
Image of private dining space from Caliber Group Dining.
Events and dates aside, make sure you come to Epping’s On Eastside during happy hour. You’ll find it Tuesday through Friday from 4pm to 6pm. There’s a libation for every kind of celebration, with a daily Featured Epping’s Old Fashion that the bartender will be happy to tell you about for $5. All wines by the glass are half-off. For beer lovers, enjoy a $3.50 Mirror Twin Warehouse Block.
Happy hour is also the place where you can save a little while trying out the delicious food here. You’ll definitely be back because it’s hard to beat half off bar-biteS menu food items. But even if you miss happy hour, come on a weekend, or stay for longer and dine, you’ll find plenty of other gems that will make this your new favorite haunt.
While the menu boasts some incredible farm-fresh fare, there are a few items that certainly stand out. The wagyu meatballs with tomato agrodolce, pistachio pesto, and Pecorino Romano are served with grilled house-made sourdough bread with a wonderful soft, pillowy texture perfect for ferrying these balls of heaven into your awaiting mouth.
In the mood for something from the sea? The crab cakes are an easy way to satisfy that craving. They’re served Thai-style with blue crab, basil aioli, petite herbs, and sesame pineapple, giving the traditional Maryland-style crab cake a true run for its money.
For the traditionalist, the pan-roasted chicken shouldn’t be missed. This Gerber Farms chicken is served with local potato hash, house-made bacon, wilted greens, and a sublime smoked gruyere mornay.
And of course, if you’re meatless, we haven’t forgotten about you. The quinoa en nogada features a stuffed fire-roasted poblano pepper with citrus cashew cream, pomegranate, roasted cashews and petite herbs with a crispy corn tortilla. Of course, you can add meat if you’d like to take your taste buds on this exciting adventure. We added shrimp to ours, which was purely divine, though you may also choose salmon, chicken, or steak.
