One local “pub” offers more than beer: The Coffee Pub on Harrodsburg Road is an excellent place to find early morning eats and treats. 

The locally owned coffee shop has been in Lexington for 10 years and offers many brunch and breakfast specialties, from waffles to omelets. However, owner Erin Johnson said it was unique to its market when it first opened. 

“Ten years ago there really wasn’t a place to have breakfast,” Johnson said. 

The historic house was built in the late 1800s and was used as a tack shop, and Johnson said she tried to carry on the equine theme in its decor. 

“I think that’s why a lot of people come here,” Johnson said. “(It’s) a quaint place that you can’t get anywhere else.” 

Menu items are named after race horses, like the Pharoah — Johnson’s dinner favorite. The Pharoah features waffle fries topped with eggs and two fillet medallions.

The breakfast menu also features egg sandwiches, chicken tacos and Johnson’s favorite, the breakfast burrito and cheese grits. 

The Coffee Pub shines in its coffee menu: All of the coffees and teas are Kentucky Proud products. The Pub serves typical coffee-shop beverages, such as lattes, cappuccinos and hot chocolate, as well as specialty espresso drinks, like caramel macchiatos and mochas, and flavored drinks like Almond Joy and Milky Way.

There’s also fresh-squeezed orange juice, tea and smoothies, if coffee isn’t your preferred beverage. While the pastries are made out-of-house, the yogurt for the smoothies is made in-pub. 

Prices are moderate and won’t break a college student’s budget, but the distance from campus is a hindrance. However, the location is perfect for weekend brunch and offers a new location for meeting parents or gathering with friends, as well as for getting away from the hustle of downtown.

Weekends can get busy. Johnson said customers could expect up to a 45-minute wait. But the Coffee Pub also has recently opened for dinner from Wednesday to Saturday. 

The patio is open when the weather is nice, so customers can enjoy the Kentucky spring and a fresh cup of coffee. 

The Coffee Pub is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout the week, and 5-9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. 

Lexington Souers is the features editor of the Kentucky Kernel.

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