ABOUT

Located in Lexington, KY, Mileta is a contemporary Italian-inspired restaurant with worldly influences, envisioned and executed by Managing Partner Dallas Rose along with Partners Executive Chef Alexander Green and Director of Operations Aaron Wood. Showcasing the bounty of the region’s purveyors, Green has crafted a menu that spotlights soulful, seasonal fare, including small plates, salads, raw bar preparations, thoughtfully sourced entrees, and a dedicated housemade pasta program. Complementing the cuisine, Mileta’s beverage program highlights both classic and seasonally driven, innovative cocktails, an extensive selection of Kentucky bourbon, American and Japanese whiskeys, Italian aperitifs, and other imported delicacies. The wine program is approachable but elevated, featuring Old World varietals in addition to New World organic and biodynamic labels. The interiors exude elegance with mid-century modern and bohemian elements, including an imported marble bar as the restaurant’s focal point, wood and brass accents, and rich leather and velvet seating with touches of subtle color and greenery throughout. Committed to embodying graciousness and delivering warm, impeccable hospitality, Mileta strives to be a neighborhood dining destination for locals and visitors alike.

Walk-ins are welcome, and reservations are available via Resy.

MEET THE TEAM

Dallas Rose

Proprietor and Managing Partner

Dallas Rose is the Proprietor and Managing Partner at Mileta, a new restaurant in Lexington, KY offering contemporary Italian-inspired cuisine with worldly influences. Born and raised in Lexington, KY, Rose got his passion for food from his mother. His extensive family tree, including Serbian, Italian, Greek, and Kentuckian backgrounds, exposed him to various cuisines and cultures throughout his childhood. At fourteen, Rose started his first restaurant job washing dishes at Ramsey’s Diner in Lexington. Since then, Rose worked in numerous roles ranging from line cook, bartender, and server throughout college and graduate school. Rose attended the University of Kentucky and received his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance. During this time, Rose opened his first restaurant at just 21 years old, a burger joint named Bunk’s Burger Bar, located on the university’s campus. After leaving the business to pursue a career in finance and attending the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University, earning a Master of Science in Finance, Rose felt pulled to the food and beverage industry and started his journey back to his one true passion. Following graduate school, Rose started working as an analyst at Goldman Sachs before assuming the role of Vice President for six years. After seven years at Goldman Sachs, Rose began working as the Director of Acquisitions for Marlin Spring, a privately owned real estate firm, in January 2020. After four years with the company, Rose branched off in January 2024 and founded Jade Investments, a real estate private equity firm investing in multifamily and industrial assets nationwide. Alongside his investment business, Rose stayed true to his love for the restaurant space and kickstarted the team at Mileta, a love letter to the Lexington community where he spent most of his life. In this role as Proprietor and Managing Partner, Rose oversees the design and build of the restaurant, managing all aspects of the business to foster a dedicated team of hospitality professionals to execute a top-tier dining experience in Kentucky. He enjoys facing multiple new challenges daily and learning from the various personalities he encounters. Rose’s fulfillment comes from exceeding people’s expectations and ensuring they leave the restaurant happy and satisfied. Rose currently resides in Lexington, KY. When not at work, he enjoys cooking and entertaining for friends and family and spending time with his wife, Courtney, his four children, Bronson, Dahlia, Mila, and Wolfgang, and his two silver labradors, Franco and Lucia.

Alex Green

Executive Chef

Alex Green is the Executive Chef at Mileta, a new restaurant in Lexington, KY, offering contemporary Italian-inspired cuisine with worldly influences. A Kentucky native, Green’s admiration for cooking dates back to his early childhood, when he would lend a hand in the kitchen to help prepare meals for his family. As time passed, so did his perspective as cooking shifted from a chore to a fascination and passion, ultimately fueling his dream of becoming a professional chef. In 2008, Green attended Murray State University in Kentucky and received a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Management. In 2014, Green moved to New York to attend the Culinary Institute of America, where he received his Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) in Culinary Arts. Since then, Green has held several roles in the restaurant industry, including opening the acclaimed New Orleans restaurant, Josephine Estelle, where he worked for two years before moving to Tennessee to work as the chef de cuisine at Hog & Hominy in Memphis, TN. During the pandemic, Green was an executive chef for Morrison Healthcare before returning to his home state in 2021 to become the dining services manager and executive chef at Frontier Nursing University in Versailles, KY. In 2023, Green joined the Mileta opening team as the restaurant’s Executive Chef. In his current role, he oversees the day-to-day operations such as hiring, menu development, budgeting, and research and development for the menu. This new venture allows him the freedom to share his inventive dishes with the world, inviting others to experience and enjoy his culinary passions. Working at a brand-new addition to the Lexington dining scene, Green is dedicated to serving the local community by creating memorable moments that allow guests to focus on the joys of dining, leaving their worries at the door. Green currently resides in Lexington, KY. When not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Marli, and their three cats, Louie, Roux, and Koji. He has also recently taken up pottery, restores vintage chefs’ knives, and enjoys mixing up cocktails from his at-home bar.

Aaron Wood

Director of Front of House Operations

Aaron Wood is the Director of Front of House Operations at Mileta, a new restaurant in Lexington, KY, offering contemporary Italian-inspired cuisine with worldly influences. Growing up in Frankfort, KY, Wood has been drawn to the food and beverage industry from an early age. When experiencing new restaurants, Wood would find himself captivated by the bartenders mixing up drinks behind the bar and was eager to learn more about the kitchen’s behind-the-scenes happenings. His first serving job at Max & Erma’s confirmed his passions, finding satisfaction and joy in seeing the smiling faces of guests daily. Wood is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a focus in strategic thinking. Following his studies, he served as beverage director at Crown Plaza Lexington. Shortly after, Wood took on several roles over the span of three years at Furlongs Lexington/Louisville as a server, bartender, bar manager, and assistant general manager. In 2011, Wood assumed the role of server and bar manager at Le Deauville in Lexington before working as bar manager at Local Feed in Georgetown, KY in 2016. Two years later, Wood became general manager at Heirloom Midway. In 2020, Wood moved to Augusta, ME to work at State Lunch as a part of the front of house staff with a focus on the restaurant’s bar program. Most recently, he worked as the dining services manager at Keeneland Lexington. In 2024, Wood joined the Mileta team as the Director of Front of House Operations. In his current role, Wood oversees the day-to-day operations of the front-of-house staff, working closely with lead servers and hosts to ensure a positive guest experience for all. Driven by his team’s success and the continued excitement of all who visit the restaurant, Wood thrives on the unique challenges and interactions that each new day brings. Wood currently resides in Lexington, KY. Outside of work, Wood is an avid hiker with the goal of trekking the Appalachian Trail one day. He is also a live music lover and enjoys seeing his favorite bands in concert, such as Phish and My Morning Jacket.