Carnivores rejoice: Lexington Burger week is back. Here’s what’s on the menu for $6
A summer dining staple, Lexington Burger Week, has become a fall event this year due to the COVID pandemic. Last year more than 125,000 burgers were consumed during the annual chowfest.
The good news is it’s Sept. 21-27, still with $6 one-of-a-kind burgers offered at participating restaurants around the city.
The bad news is the event features a smaller lineup of burgers this year. In 2019, there were 46 unique burgers to try, if you could get to them all; in 2020, there are 26 options from 23 restaurants.
But it’s all good, right? The menu still features a lot of really inventive burgers, with ingredients that are a bit out there — one is even a pizza and another is a taco.
There isn’t an official theme but the unofficial one might be “booze” because at least four burgers find a way to work a little something in the mix.
And this year’s lineup of restaurants includes some new places, such as Josanne’s Homestyle Kitchen and Favor.
So, don’t forget your mask, be prepared to wait and consider takeout. But come hungry, because burger week is back, courtesy of Smiley Pete, which puts on the dining event.
Lexington Burger Week restaurants, burgers
▪ Beerfest Burger, Drake’s, 3347 Tates Creek Rd.: Burger topped with warm beer cheese, mild mustard sauce, pickle chips and horseradish-celery seed slaw.
▪ Southern Love Burger, Josanne’s Homestyle Kitchen, 3449 Buckhorn Dr.: Patty topped with Cajun deep-fried turkey, fried green tomato, white cheddar cheese and sweet potato mayo.
▪ Korean BBQ Burger, Harry’s American Grill, 1920 Pleasant Ridge Dr.: Burger glazed with Korean BBQ sauce, topped with crunchy kimchi slaw and chili-garlic mayo.
▪ South in Your Mouth, Columbia Steakhouse, 201 North Limestone: Eight-ouch ground chuck burger topped with homemade pimento cheese and fried green tomato.
▪ F 2020 Burger, Stella’s Kentucky Deli, 143 Jefferson St.: Burger topped with barbecue, house-made beer cheese, pickles and Grippos. Vegetarian version available.
▪ The Hambassador, Favor, 547 N. Limestone: Dry-aged beef topped with Kentucky country ham, topped with house-made bacon jam, pickled red onions, Coopers’ Craft bourbon barrel mustard and Garage Beer cheese.
▪ The BMG, Zim’s Cafe, 215 W. Main St.: Burger topped with gorgonzola cream and mushroom-bacon jam.
▪ The Easy Rider, Agave & Rye, 3535 Nicholasville Rd.: Two smashed burgers topped with sweet and spicy bacon, agave and chili bbq jam, queso, tomato, pickles and tobacco onions. (This restaurant also has a taco option: Two Happy Elote tacos filled with seasoned ground beef, aged white cheddar, queso, roasted street corn with serrano aioli, tajin and cilantro.)
▪ The Tipsy Thyme Burger, Wild Thyme, 1060 Chinoe Rd.: Grilled burger topped with beer cheese, dill picke chips, caramelized onion and bacon jam, and chipotle “tipsy” sauce infused with Coopers’ Craft Bourbon.
▪ The Drunken Pig, Goodwood Brewpub, 109 W. Main St. in Frankfort: Two Angus paties topped with house-made beer cheese, bourbon bacon jam, bacon, lettuce, and pickle. There’s also a vegetarian version.
▪ BLT Burger, Harry’s American Grill, 3735 Palomar Centre Dr.: Patty topped with hickory-smoked bacon, jalapeno-green tomato jam, Parmesan garlic mayo and iceberg slaw.
▪ Brewtucky Burger, Mr. Brews Taphouse, 220 Ruccio Way: Hereford burger smothered in homemade Kentucky-style beer cheese, topped with Grippos-crusted fried green tomato, shredded lettuce and shaved red onions, drizzled with aioli.
▪ The Scat Daddy Burger, Ranada’s Kitchen, 312 S. Ashland Ave.: Darling Farms burger topped with ginger beer bacon jam, smoked blackberry agave bbq, aged white cheddar and coffeehouse dusted fried onions.
▪ BBQ Cordon Blue Burger, Drake’s, 1880 Pleasant Ridge Dr.: Pattied topped with hickory-smoked bacon, mellow marbled blue-brie cheese and bourbon-bbq mayo.
▪ Uptown Mushroom Swiss Burger, BurgerFi, 141 Rojay Dirve and 391 Rose St.: Angus patty topped with herbed mushrooms, diced tomatoes, truffle aioli and fried shallots.
▪ PB&J Bacon Brie Burger, Drake’s, 390 E. Brannon: Burger topped with creamy brie, peanut butter and strawberry-bacon jam.
▪ Bluegrass Smokestack Burger, Chop House, 2640 Richmond Rd.: Grilled Angus patty seasoned with signature steak seasoning, smothered in BBQ sauce, topped with caramelized onions, cheddar cheese and smoked applewood bacon.
▪ Baja Turkey Burger, First Watch, 119 W. Reynolds Rd., 2894 Richmond Rd., 2251 War Admiral Way, 1080 S. Broadway: White-meat turkey patty with avocado, mixed greens, pico de gallo, mayo and horseradish havarti.
▪ Cheeseburger Deluxe Pizza, LaRosa’s Pizzeria, 2890 Richmond Rd. and 115 Southland (carryout only): Just like a deluxe cheeseburger on a pizza crust, with special burger sauce, ground beer, bacon, roasted onions, pickles, provolone and cheddar cheese.
▪ Alfanator, Alfalfa Restaurant, 141 E. Main: Portabella mushrooms, grilled and simmered in bbq sauce, on top of either a beef patty or a vegan patty, with cheese (or vegan cheese), caramelized sweet onions and house made slaw.
▪ Green & Hot, Ted’s Montana Grill, 2304 Sir Barton Way: Burger topped with pepper jack cheese, grilled jalapenos and handmade rustic guacamole with sriracha aioli.
▪ Mexican Burger, Mi Pequena Hacienda, 3501 Lansdowne Dr. and 110 Cynthia Dri. in Brannon Crossing: Beef patty topped with chorizo, Monterey jack cheese, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, guacamole, tomato, lettuce, bacon and special dressing, with a sweet potato fries on the side.
▪ George the Greek, Athenian Grill, 313 S. Ashland Ave. and 120 E. Main: Ground sirloin and lamb burger with harissa yogurt sauce and olive oil marinated heirloom tomato.
