Jason Campbell, managing partner at Billy Yanks and The Lucky Well, said the two organizations wanted to have another project in Hamilton and had been looking at different spots.
The Lucky Well is open from 4-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and the kitchen shuts down an hour before close. Campbell said the plan is to expand the hours in a couple of months to include a Sunday evening and maybe a Saturday brunch.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Restaurant General Manager Mat Wells, who worked at Billy Yanks before being moved to the new restaurant, said the crowds at both restaurant include a lot of the same patrons, even though the menu is different. Campbell said it’s likely because of Wells, who “has a tremendous following” in the city having been the Billy Yanks mixologist and bourbon bar manager.
“Billy Yanks had been a fan favorite over there (on Main Street), and I think The Lucky Well be a fan favorite on this side of the river,” Campbell said.
Though the same type of crowds can be seen at both restaurants, Campbell, who’s been an executive chef for more than a decade, said the menus are completely different. The Lucky Well has what he calls Irish-inspired dishes.
“We took some traditional Irish stuff with my twist,” he said.
Wells said the capacity of the restaurant is 120, and they would like to eventually have outdoor seating with a cordoned area, similar to the one at Basil 1791 on High Street. Reservations are recommended because The Lucky Well been busy on weekends, Wells said.
“It’s full Fridays and Saturdays,” he said, adding reservations can be made on OpenTable. “Reservations are definitely recommended.”
Entree prices range from $16 to $23, with the highest being a New York Strip steak for $32. Top sellers are fish and chips and steak, and the top appetizer has been the reuben eggrolls. Wells is a fan of their French fries, and called them “bangin.‘”
The bar has six beer taps and bartenders can make most any drink, he said. “We’re an Irish restaurant, but we’re a lot farther from Ireland than Kentucky, so we’ve got a great bourbon selection with our great Irish whiskey selection,” Wells said.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Espresso martinis are a bestseller, along with Irish beers including Guinness, Harp and Smithwick’s.
The one hurdle is parking. Though they are in partnership with the hotel, that parking lot is for guests only. Campbell and Wells said they are trying to work out an agreement with a neighboring property, but for now, “it’s wherever you can find it.”
“It is an urban setting,” Campbell said, and there should be street parking available. “There is public parking close.”
“Right now, the city’s fantastic,” Campbell said of Hamilton’s restaurant options. “We’ve got lots of different options and a lot more coming. Hopefully, it just continues to bring people down and hopefully on this side (of the river) we get more foot traffic and people will stop on this side.”
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
MORE DETAILS
Location: 10 S. Monument Ave., Hamilton (attached to the Well House Hotel)
Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (kitchen shuts down an hour before close)
More information: Visit www.theluckywellhamilton.com, search The Lucky Well Irish Pub & Eatery on Facebook, or call 513-737-2100
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