1. They will run out. The restaurants are going to be making A LOT of these burgers, so try to understand if they run out. There will be 19 other restaurants also serving burgers that are just as tasty that you should try next!
2. There will be waits. Be prepared to have to wait for a table. This event is going to be very popular, so try to go early or make sure to be patient with our restaurants.
3. Tips are appreciated. $5 brings out the cheap in all of us, but really, you're getting a $10-15 burger (many restaurants go way overboard with ingredients, trying to outdo each other), so please tip at least 20%. The people who are serving you are working harder during Burger Week than at any other point in the year. A kind word will also be welcome - these people are our friends and neighbors.
4. You really should buy a drink or other food. While extra purchases are not a requirement, I think it says something good about you if you show a little love to a restaurant going above and beyond to bring you an awesome burger. Pick up some fries and a pint of Kentucky Ale. You'll enjoy yourself more.
5. Check Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Restaurants are encouraged to post their waits and remaining burgers for the day. Go to lexingtonburgerweek.com and don't forget to tag your Instagram photos and tweets with
#lexburgerweek.
Now to the good stuff, the burgers!
1. The Pole Dancer from A La Lucie
Two Angus beef patties with a bourbon soaked Bellavitano and Swiss mac and cheese waffle in between, topped with applewood smoked bacon, onion ring, pickle, tomato, chopped lettuce and a Dijon mayonnaise “special sauce.” The Dancer will be served on a split-top potato bread bun and skewered. Best paired with: Kentucky Ale
2. Two Drunken Burgers from Enoteca
Two red wine-soaked burger sliders covered in melted drunken goat cheese from Spain, topped with house cured pork belly, green peppers cooked in Kentucky Ale, and baby greens served on brioche buns with house aioli on the side. Best paired with: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale
3. Smokin' Beer Cheese Burger from JDI
An Angus patty topped with in-house smoked pulled pork, JDI beer cheese made with Kentucky Ale, fresh red onions; breaded and fried with lettuce, and tomato. Best paired with: Kentucky Ale
4. The Animal Club from Country Club
A Kentucky beef patty from Marksbury Farm Foods, seared with mustard bbq sauce, 2 slices American cheese, smoked onions, pickles, lettuce, Garey Farm heirloom tomato, BBQ 1000 Island, on a toasted Sunrise Bakery bun. Best paired with: Kentucky White Ale
A beef burger blended with Bourbon butter crimini mushrooms, topped with Kenny’s Swiss cheese, house-pickled Garey Farms kale kraut and our Russian dressing. We’ll also offer a lentil patty using the same treatment for vegetarians. Best paired with: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout
6. Far East Bound & Down O'Round from Shamrock Bar and Grill
O’Round with a dollop of Sriracha, fire roasted green chiles, pepperjack cheese, finished with garden fresh leaf lettuce, diced red onion, and a hand breaded, Panko fried green tomato with a butter grilled bun lathered with Sriracha aioli. Best paired with: Kentucky Old Fashioned Barrel Ale
7. Best Friend Burger from Best Friend Bar
A beef patty topped with house made pimento cheese, fried green tomato, fried shallots, Sriracha mayo, tomato onion jam and fresh cilantro on a potato bun. Best paired with: Kentucky IPA
8. Five Buck Burger from Drake'sA ginormous 100% USDA beef patty with honey-jalapeno barbecue sauce, heaps of American cheese, and house fried onion straws. Best paired with: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale
9. Beef WELL-ington Burger from Smithtown Seafood
Locally sourced beef burger with mushroom duxelles, coffee stout demi-glace, crumbled Kenny’s Barren County bleu cheese, crispy buttermilk onions, roast garlic aïoli, and FoodChain mustard microgreens on a croissant. Best with: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout
10. Backyard Voodoo Burger from Lynagh's
A perfectly seasoned ground sirloin patty on a toasted brioche bun, topped with caramelized onions and drenched in a root beer and onion sauce so damn good it can only be called Voodoo. Best paired with: Kentucky Kolsch
11. Rising Sun Burger from Alfalfa Restaurant
A 1/4 lb Local Stone Cross Farms beef burger topped with tamari marinated grilled onions, tempura battered shiitake mushrooms, cucumber-ginger pickle and wasabi mayo on a housemade sesame bun using Weisenberger Mill flour. Best paired with: Kentucky Ale
12. Thai Me Down Burger from Lexington Diner
A 1/3 lb. local Cooper Brothers burger with Thai Peanut Sauce, mushrooms, caramelized onion, smoked gouda, and Asian vegetables with a sweet jalapeno chili sauce on a Sunrise Bakery brioche bun. Lexington Diner does not serve beer.
13. Lum's Olie Burger from The Ketch Seafood Restaurant
A 6 oz. Angus chuck patty seasoned with the original Lum’s Burger Spice Mix, cooked over white oak coals, topped with provolone, Romano & Parmesan cheese and served on our house baked, toasted bun with Original Lum’s Sauce. Try it with an order of spicy Lum’s Fries. Best paired with: Kentucky Ale
14. Hot Diggity Dog Beer Cheese Burger from Columbia Steakhouse
An 8 oz. burger with a chargrilled 100% beef hot dog, our artisan top-secret beer cheese and leafy green lettuce. Served on a butter-toasted sesame seed bun. Best paired with: Kentucky Ale
15. Western Burger from AP Suggins
An 8 oz. burger topped with a spicy Kansas City style BBQ sauce, hickory smoked bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, a beer battered onion ring, romaine lettuce and sliced tomato on a toasted bun. Best paired with: Kentucky Ale
16. Caballero Steak Burger from Coba Cocina
A steak burger with arugula, queso fresco and chimichurri. Best paired with: Kentucky Kolsch
17. West Kentucky Blue Jack Mutton Burger from Billy's BBQ
A fresh rosemary and garlic infused mutton burger with melted bleu cheese crumbles or pepperjack cheese topped with pickles, lettuce, onion and tomato on a sesame seed bun. Best paired with: Kentucky Ale
18. Beaumont Bomber Burger from BRU Burger
A tri-cut blend of sirloin, chuck, and brisket topped with chorizo, white cheddar, sauteed peppers, eggs, hashbrowns, and a star anise gravy, sitting on a brioche bun. Best paired with: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout
19. Bite the Bulleit Burger from The Cellar
An 8 oz. burger smothered in a bourbon glaze, caramel onions, bacon and two slices of smoked gouda cheese topped with a toasted sesame seed bun. Best paired with: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale
20. Drunken Cajun Butter from Bourbon & Toulouse/CCI
A 1/4 lb. beef patty mixed with bourbon smoked garlic salt, minced onion, sharp cheddar cheese, creole spiced bread butter, Cajun power hot sauce and Sadistic Mistress homemade ketchup. Best paired with: Kentucky Ale
Now comes the hard part...what's going to be your first stop!? Visit www.lexingtonburgerweek.com for more information!