The burger – an American meal and part of our culture can be found and made on, what seems, any street corner in Lexington. However, the cozy and well-designed eatery Bru Burger Bar is redoing the burger right, while pairing it with anything the customer can imagine. From the Kentucky bourbon burger to their homemade veggie burger, passion is found in every bite.

The Lexington restaurant, located in Beaumont Centre, changes the way Lexingtonians look at the classic American meal. My personal favorite of the Bru burgers is not a burger at all: the Grilled Portobello, a gigantic grilled Portobello mushroom on top of roasted red peppers, arugula, goat cheese, balsamic onion and pesto on rye.

The Bru burger, named “The End,” is also one to look out for. Your burger is cooked how you like, in between horseradish, Havarti, a fried egg, caramelized onion, lettuce, tomato and truffle aioli.

Aside from the unordinary burgers, Bru chili can be compared to mom’s, all of their sauces are homemade – yes, homemade ketchup – and the alcohol selection is nowhere near falling. Bourbon, white and red wine, cocktails and not to mention their draft beers ranging from local brews like Country Boy and West Sixth to those across the ocean in Germany like Weihenstephaner Pilsner.

On my recent visit to the Bru, my waitress recommended the Stilton bleu cheese burger, which contains pear-bacon jam, fried onions, truffle aioli and spinach. My waitress also said that the best appetizer to try is the roasted jalapeno macaroni and cheese. This classic dish of Andouille sausage and shrimp tossed with cavatappi pasta in spicy cheese sauce can be followed by one of their many deserts like that of the peach and white chocolate bread pudding or s’mores cake.

The interior of the restaurant is anything but outdated with painted brick walls, comfortable seating, flat screens for the big game and an outside dining area underneath string lights.

Bru is thought of as a bit on the pricey side, but is a great experience and has me, and my vegetarian boyfriend, coming back for more. If you have the opportunity to try this franchise, Bru has a second location in Indianapolis.

“BRU is an ode to our love … the Burger,” says the Bru website, and I can’t think of any other way to describe the experience. With Hugh Jass closing down, it’s time to find a new burger place – and the Bru doesn’t have you looking very far.