Wanderlust, and Coming Home.

Baseball may be America’s past time, but burgers and beer aren’t far down the list of our nation’s favorites.  Celebrating America’s current love affair with craft beer and artisanal cuisine, Bru Burger Bar in Lexington, Kentucky has a menu to fit any taste in a well-designed atmosphere that suits sports enthusiasts and casual diners alike.

Any time I see ahi tuna on a menu, the decision is made before I even consider another option.  My first visit to Bru, I had the Ahi Tuna Burger with sweet chili mayo and cucumber slaw, and our table split an order of Bru Fries with house ketchup, black pepper mayo, and chipotle barbeque sauce.  I’m quite certain that I was full when I had eaten only half of my dinner, but it was so good, I had to finish it all.  The ahi tuna was cooked exactly the way I asked, and it paired quite well with the fries and four unique sauces.  The restaurant was full that evening with a crowd of Big Blue Madness fans cheering on our Wildcats, but the service was still good.  My friends tried the Provençal burger (think basil aioli, red onion jam, and herbed goat cheese) and the Ground Turkey Burger (with carrot ginger slaw and peach compote), and they raved about both.  The onion rings were a big hit as well.

I’m a creature of habit and have been known to go to a specific restaurant just to get one specific dish and rarely stray from my favorite.  On my second visit to Bru, however, my work on Wanderlust, and Coming Home encouraged me to expand my horizons and venture out to other items on the menu.  We started with the Triple Dip, an appetizer board featuring whipped goat cheese, peppadew pepper jam, hummus, guacamole and naan bread.  The portions were plentiful, and each sauce complimented the others.  My favorite was the goat cheese mixed with the peppadew jam.  For dinner, I tried the Vegan Quinoa Burger.  The burger itself was obviously homemade and had a great flavor, but if I were to order it again, I’d ask for extra jam to counteract the dryness of the bean pattie.  Mr. WACH ordered the Stilton Bleu Cheese Burger, featuring pear-bacon and fried onions, and there wasn’t a bite left on his plate at the end of our dinner.  Pair those two burgers with a large craft beer selection and a knowledgeable server, and we’ll definitely be back for another visit.

Both of my visits to Bru so far have been during cold months, and I’m looking forward to a dinner date there on a warm spring evening on what looks to be a great patio atmosphere with exposed beams and white twinkle lights.  Beaumont Centre has gained a neighborhood partner with style and burgers to delight veggiesaurs and meatosaurs alike! 

© Copyright 2015 – Amelia Adams