LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Now that summer is in full swing, it's time to celebrate a Kentucky staple: Lexington Burger Week.
Don’t think “burger week” is all that significant? Here at Stella’s, they’re already flying off the grill at 10:30 am. @LEX18News #lexingtonburgerweek pic.twitter.com/0aMKlqzxu5
— Michael Berk (@LEX18_Michael) July 5, 2021
30 restaurants will be taking part in Lexington Burger Week this year. 26 unique burgers will be available throughout the week. Each burger costs $6.
Most restaurants will be indoor or outdoor dining services throughout the week. Some still plan to provide a takeout option.
“Burger week is insane. It’s about three-times a normal week,” Stella’s Kentucky Deli owner, Lester Miller said of business during this week.
Miller said he takes weeks to prepare for this, and then when it’s all said and done he takes a week off to decompress.
“My wife and I are preparing to work a 100-hour week,” Miller said.
Lexington’s burger week had to be postponed last year due to COVID-19, and when it eventually did happen it was mostly a delivery, or curb-side event.
“It is very different. And since we’ve reopened the dining room it’s been very different for us. It’s been crazy buy and we’ve been loving it every minute of it,” Miller said.
A few blocks away on North Limestone, Chef Daniel Holeman is preparing his All Over the South Burger.
“We’ve been working it out, trying to get prepared because I know it’s a big exercise,” Holeman said, before estimating that he’ll be preparing roughly 100-200 burgers during each of the six days of burger week.
Neither Daniel, nor Lester are exaggerating. Some were in as early as 10:30 sitting for lunch and placing burger orders.
“I’m making an exception. I always make an exception for breakfast burgers” (during this week), said customer, Angela Casini. Angela was holding her burger week menu and has her sights set on sampling at least 14 of them at Lexington’s various participating restaurants.
“I’ve been doing this the last 4-5 years, doing as many burgers as possible,” she added.
Participating restaurants include the following:
- Agave & Rye
- Athenian Grill
- Bear & The Butcher
- The Belt Line
- Big City Pizza - Hamburg Only
- BRU Burger
- BurgerFi - Fayette Mall
- BurgerFi - Hamburg
- BurgerFi - UK Campus
- Drake's - Brannon Crossing
- Drake's - Hamburg
- Drake's - Lansdowne
- First Watch - Broadway
- First Watch - Hamburg
- First Watch - Nicholasville Road
- First Watch - Richmond Road
- Goodwood Frankfort
- Goodwood Lexington
- Josanne's Homestyle Kitchen
- Harry's - Hamburg
- Harry's - Palomar
- LaRosa's Pizzeria - Richmond Road
- LaRosa's Pizzeria - Southland Drive
- La Petite Delicat
- Mi Pequena Hacienda - Brannon Crossing
- Mi Pequena Hacienda - Lansdowne
- Ranada's Kitchen
- The Belt Line: Southern Grill + Gumbo
- The Sage Rabbit
- Stella's Kentucky Deli
- Zim's Cafe
A digital passport and app can be downloaded to track the burgers eaten during Lexington Burger Week. Download the Lexington Burger Week App & Passport to view participating restaurants, locations, burger names, descriptions, and beer pairings. If you collect three or more digital stamps, you're eligible to win prizes, including an outdoor grill. Participants who collect 10 or more digital stamps to be eligible to win free burgers for a year.
Lexington Burger Week starts Monday, July 5. It runs through Sunday, July 11. This is Lexington Burger Week's seventh year promoting local restaurants.
Go to lexingtonburgerweek.com for more information.