Last year, during Burger Week, we got the idea to try some of the weird and wonderful burger creations made by Burger Week participants. This year, with so many restaurants participating, we’re doing it again. It’s time to sample a few Burger Week creations with tons of character!
The Sicilian Burger Queen
Agave & Rye324 E Main St., New Albany, Indiana
Stepping into one of the locations in the Louisville Metro across the river, I sat down outside to enjoy Agave & Rye’s Sicilian Burger Queen, which included two smash beef patties, mozzarella, a few slices of sweet and spicy bacon on a few toasted buns that were also topped with charred pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, and their signature house red sauce.This is a burger you’ll struggle to pick up bare-handed without making a mess, so I strongly encourage you to bring a friend to hold down one end of the burger with their own utensil as you slice into it to get each savory bite onto your fork. The pizza blend on both buns doesn’t seem like it would complement well with the ingredients between them, but each bite gave me a rich and sweet feel thanks to the bacon and perfectly simmered beef. The spiciness of said bacon doesn’t shine through like I thought it would, but the savory texture of the mozzarella all throughout still made the trip worth it for me, and it will for you, too.
This quirky burger really left an impression on me. I don’t remember the last time I have felt as satisfied heading out of a restaurant as I did with this meal.
I was also given a special Bobarita, which usually includes a special jalapeño tequila, mixed with mango puree and strawberry Boba balls. I got mine virgin, as I really wanted to sink into this meal with no extra calories bogging me down.
If you haven’t been to Agave & Rye, be sure to check out The Sicilian Burger Queen during Burger Week. The traditionally known taco spot knows how to make a mean burger that will have you clamoring for more.
Quick hack, if the bun does slide off in the middle of slicing: Get some queso before the burger comes out, then dip the extra mozza- rella-topped buns into the queso for some serious cheesy taste.- Caleb Stultz Caleb StultzBat Out Of Hell Smashburger
Nic & Norman’s 300 N Hurstbourne Pkwy.
When I first heard about the meatloaf smashburger at Nic & Norman’s, I knew I had to give it a try. The Whiskey Alley restaurant is fun, laid-back and full of Southern flair. Owned by some of the cast and crew of “The Walking Dead,” including the charismatic Norman Reedus, it’s serving up one of Burger Week’s quirkiest masterpieces.
The burger itself is pretty massive. A thick, juicy patty of homestyle meatloaf is grilled to perfection and generously topped with creamy mashed potatoes. I know, I know. Mashed potatoes?! On a burger? That was my first thought too. But, as the saying goes, don’t knock it ’til you try it!
All in all, this burger tastes a like a messy plate of Thanksgiving dinner crossed with a summer BBQ, and honestly? I’m not mad about it. Not even a little bit.
The unique creation also includes Nic & Norman’s special sauce that tastes something like a cross between steak sauce and barbecue sauce, adds an interesting tangy sweetness. Plus, crispy fried onion straws add an irresistible crunch!
With rich brown gravy oozing out of the bun in a hot, savory mess, you’re going to need more than one napkin to make it through this meal unstained.
—Sydney Catinna Nic & Norman'sSpicy Pimento Cheese & Bacon Marmalade Burger
Bristol Bar & Grille 300 N Hurstbourne Pkwy.
For Louisville Burger Week, you must make a stop at Bristol Bar and Grille on Hurstbourne Lane to try the Spicy Pimento Cheese & Bacon Marmalade Burger. Topped with spicy pimento cheese, bacon marmalade, fried onions, and “Naked Greens” arugula, I couldn’t get enough.
The burger was delicious, tender, and juice flowed out as I bit into it. When I first read that pimento cheese would be on the burger, I was a bit nervous, but it was the perfect addition and blended so well with the sweet bacon marmalade. I’m a picky eater, and I don’t eat pimento cheese alone, but I could’ve eaten 100 of these burgers, seriously!
My burger was served with delicious sweet potato fries that had the perfect crunch. They came with a honey lime aioli dipping sauce that adds a subtle honey flavor to the already sweet tasting fries. I had eaten half of the fries before even biting into the burger because I couldn’t put them down. I was also served one of their speciality cocktails that will be available during burger week.
The Peachy Southern Sour contains Jack Daniel Tennessee Whiskey, Peach Schnapps, ginger ale, and fresh citrus sour mix, and this drink was divine. The peach, citrus, and ginger ale masked the strong taste that Whiskey has (in my opinion), and I couldn’t stop drinking it.
The drink paired well with the burger and fries making for a filling and delicious lunch. Not only was the food great, but the staff was amazing as well. They were so attentive and constantly checking up on the guests in the restaurant. Their kindness really stood out to me, making me want to return someday. If you’re not located near the Hurstbourne Lane location, their Highlands and Downtown locations are also participating in burger week; however, they’re each serving different specialty burgers.
—Malia Bowman Malia BowmanThe Impossible Burger
Vernon Lanes
1575 Story Ave.
Eight refinished wooden lanes are reason enough to visit Vernon Lanes, the mid-cen- tury vintage bowling alley at 1575 Story Ave. in Butchertown. But their full menu of appetizers, salads, flatbreads, dogs and burgers make Vernon Lanes a fun and reasonably priced food destination, too.
The spectrum of plant-based options includes an Impossible burger. The Impossible brand is a boon for vegetarians, vegans, or anyone who wants to scale back the animal products in their diet yet still wants the distinct umami experience of a burger. Soy protein with sunflower and coconut oils give Impossible meat the look and mouthfeel of ground beef. The seemingly impossible part is the meat flavor that comes from the addition of heme. For the food science geeks in the house, heme is the group of molecules that contain iron in all living cells — plant and animal alike. Its natural color is the reason that blood is red and the reason Impossible meat looks like ground beef.
Plant-based patties need to be cooked differently than beef or other meats. In the kitchen at Vernon Lanes, the preparation demands a bowling-related pun: Strike! It has slightly charred edges without being overcooked, a common point of frustration when ordering meatless burgers from an otherwise beef-based menu. The burger is juicy but not at all greasy, with
just enough crumbly char along the grill marks to bring back memories of summer cookouts.
Vernon Lanes dress their Impossible burger with a vegan Cheddar-style cheese that melts without any oiliness, crisp green leaves of Romaine, and thinly sliced house-made pickles that could stand alone as a flavor-packed snack in their own right. The size and softness of the brioche bun is well balanced with the burger, the cut side is slightly toasted to maintain the structural integrity of the sandwich — because whether you come to Vernon Lanes to bowl, throw darts, or play pinball, messy food will take you right out of your game.
The Impossible burger — like all the sandwiches at Vernon Lanes — is accompanied by medium thick cut fries that are crispy at their corners and fluffy inside.
At only $11 (or $14 for a double patty), this burger and fries combination is good enough to go back for, even when not bowl- ing. The chill yet personable staff make it a whole vibe.
—Aria Baci Aria BaciSignature Old Louisville Burger Burger Girl
3334 Frankfort Ave.
For Louisville Burger Week, Burger Girl Diner in St. Matthew’s on Frankfort Avenue brings a playful, retro diner vibe, great for a quick bite. I would recommend the Signature Old Louisville Burger, a 1⁄4 pound burger that comes with bacon, provolone, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and mayo and is topped off with an egg cooked up to your liking.
The great thing about this burger is that it’s not so big it falls apart, and you have to eat it with a fork. It’s a solid, sturdy burger, that delivers everything you would want. The Old Louisville Burger is filling but not so filling you can’t enjoy the crispy fries and a strawberry, vanilla, or chocolate milkshake. It makes for an excellent meal that you can enjoy any time, and I mean literally anytime.
That brings me to the huge bonus of Burger Girl Diner: They are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They also have cookies, cake, and cinnamon rolls (which I highly recommend) to finish up your meal if you still have some room when you’re done!
—Bryce Russell Bryce Russell
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