Burger week returns to Lexington

Bar Louie’s Tacho Average Burger is a Burger Week steal until July 15th.

Grant Noffsinger

Burger Week has returned to Lexington July 9-15 with 40 different locations serving up 40 different specialty burgers for only $5 each.

“I’ve been going to the gym twice as much just because it’s Burger Week,” 20-year-old MaKayla Keyes said while waiting in line at Tolly-Ho to get the restaurant’s special Burger Week burger.

A website  sponsored by the Kentucky Beef Council and West 6th Brewing has been set up detailing every burger and their “7 Commandments of Lexington Burger Week.” Such “commandments” include “You Will Tip and Give Thanks” and “You Really Should Buy a Drink or Other Food.”

 

Although it seems that restaurants may be losing money serving a burger that would have been $9 or $10 for only $5, that is not the case according to one waiter.

“Business has been booming. We’ve been super busy all week and sales are great,” said Jacob Tow, a Ted’s Montana Grill waiter.

Ted’s Montana Grill has the Green & Hot, a burger topped with Pepper Jack cheese, grilled jalapenos and handmade guacamole on a toasted brioche bun with Sriracha aioli. Ted’s Montana Grill’s burger also has an option to order a bison burger instead of a beef burger.

The exposure that restaurants are receiving during Burger Week have been astounding. Seth Hojnacki, a Lexington native, recently found his new favorite burger at Bar Louie, which boasts the “Tacho Average Burger,” an all-beef patty with buffalo chicken, tater tots, queso, bacon bits, ranch and fried onion strings on a toasted brioche bun.

“Burger Week to me is an opportunity to try creations from my community and try a fresh take on a classic American meal,” said Hojnacki.

Other restaurants near UK’s campus have Burger Week specialties of their own. BurgerFi has the Bayou Burger which has two 100 percent Angus patties with cajun seasoning, garlic aioli, cheese sauce, diced jalapenos, chopped bacon, shredded lettuce and tomato on a potato bun.

Girlsgirlsgirls Burritos on South Limestone has the BigStack CrunchRap, a fun spin on the traditional Burger Week burger. Wrapped in a crispy flour tortilla, the BigStack CrunchRap has two layers of spicy ground beef, girlsgirlsgirls’ special sauce, American cheese, shredded lettuce, cilantro, diced red onion and girlsgirlsgirls’ specialty pickles. The restaurant also has a vegetarian option.

Burger Week won’t be here for long. The last day to get a $5 specialty burger is Sunday, July 15th.