The History of Furlongs

Thoroughbred horse racing fans know that a furlong is a 1/8 of a mile, but local restaurant mavens know that Furlongs servers great food and a good time. Jambalaya, Beignets and Shrimp Etoufee are just a sampling of the succulent southwest Louisiana cuisine selections found at this distinctive eatery.

Furlongs creator Tommy Walters hails from Lafayette, Louisiana, where he grew up cooking alongside his father, noted Cajun chef Roland Walters. Tommy perfected authentic southwest Louisiana cooking and has brought his own signature dishes to share with Kentucky diners. Tommy opened Furlongs in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1992 on the corner of Ashland and Main Streets. It was so successful that a second Furlongs opened in Louisville in November 1998, winning one of the city's "Best New Restaurants" awards.

Following its closure in 2005, Furlongs was reopened in 2007 by Tommy with a fellow Louisiana native, Charles Verrette. Charles was born in Mamou, Louisiana, and spent every weekend at the home of his grandparents, Onezime and EnaBelle Vidrine, absorbing the Cajun culture and cooking. The Cajun traditions have been passed on to Charles from his parents, Burke and Mary Verrette. Burke and Mary taught their children to end every meal with, "Merci, c'est si bon." (Thank you , it was good.) We hope to hear this from our friends after meals at Furlongs.

The Furlongs Menu is filled with delectable options from seafood and pasta favorites to out-of-this-world chef's Mignon Ecrivesse, a nine-ounce fillet topped with crawfish etoufee. Homemade soups change daily, and all the salad dressings are Walters original Secret recipes. Save room for dessert and try the melt-in-your-mouth Beignets, fried dough dusted with confectioner's sugar.

Furlongs is located at 735 East Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky, 40502, and is brightly outlined with festive lights. Furlongs is open for dinner Monday through Thursday from 4pm until 10pm, and remains open until 11pm on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sundays. For information or to make reservations, call (859) 266-9000.

We Cater Too!

Remember Furlongs for your next BBQ or special event. We have an excellent selection of catering menus to choose from- from buffets to boils! Let Furlongs spice up your party! Ask the manager on duty or call (859) 913-5611 for more details.