BRU Burger Bar - Stilton Bleu Cheese Burger (4 stars)

3010 Lakecrest Cir
Lexington, KY  40513
Phone:  (859) 305-0082
Website: http://www.bruburgerbar.com/

Only a few locations in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio

Time of Visit:  November 21, 2015 at 3:15 pm

My Order:  Stilton Bleu Cheese Burger

                    Onion Rings w/ dipping sauce
                    Sweet Tea

                               

I drove back to southern Illinois to visit my parents for Thanksgiving and always pass through Lexington in the afternoon, so I decided to try out this small chain.  I was going to just get a basic cheeseburger (and not spend so much), but the Stilton Bleu Cheese Burger just jumped out at me from the menu.  Since I probably won’t be back here soon, I went ahead and ordered it.

Burger Rating = 3.9 (****)

Presentation, Overall Rating 4

The meal came out arranged on a white, rectangular platter.  Everything was arranged very well and had a very neat appearance.  The burger was placed on one end and the onion rings were arranged on the other end curved around the ramekin of sauce.  The only mark against it was a little too much spillage of toppings from the burger.  The food was hot and fresh and looked good.  Overall it looked good, but needed to be just a bit neater, so I give it a 4.

Meat, Overall Rating 4

The patty was cooked all the way through, with a nice brown crust.  It had a good texture and was well seasoned.  My only grumble is that it was a bit dry, so I will give it a 4.

Bun, Overall Rating 5

The bun had a nice, shiny brown crust and was just the right size and shape for the burger.  It was toasted very nicely and had a great flavor.  Finally, it held up really well all through my meal.  The bun was top notch and I’ll give it a 5.

Toppings, Overall Rating 3.8

Stilton Bleu Cheese:  This cheese was very creamy, almost a spread.  That being said, they should have spread it around better.  Overall, there was probably the right amount on the burger, but it was piled in the middle and I didn’t get cheese in every bite.  It did taste really good and stayed in the burger well, so overall, it will get a 4.

Pear-Bacon Jam:  This was really tasty and a nice addition to the sandwich, although I didn’t really taste any bacon, only pear.  The pear was in little chunks that tended to fall out, but each piece provided a nice crunch of sweetness to the burger.  Overall this will get a 4.
Fried Onions:  Another nice addition to the sandwich, these provided a nice crunch of savory flavor to the burger.  It partnered well with the other toppings and there was just the right amount.  But, again, the pieces tended to fall out, so another 4.
Spinach:  This was fresh and provided another texture to the burger, but it wasn’t very well distributed across the sandwich, so that there wasn’t spinach in every bite.  It was a nice addition, so I’ll give it 4.
Truffle Aioli:  This had a good flavor, but there just wasn’t enough of it to really make an impact on the sandwich, getting lost in the mix of flavors.  Because it didn’t really add to the sandwich, I can’t give it any more than a 3.

Balance/Taste, Overall Rating 3

Overall, this was a wonderful combination of flavors, with the smooth, sharp cheese, the sweet bite of pear, and the savory crunch of the onions.  However, the meal wasn’t consistent as some bites had all the toppings and others didn’t.  Also, the pears and onions tended to fall out a bit much.  If there was some extra feature, like grass-fed beef or locally sourced toppings, I would have given it more points, but as is, only a 3.

 

Other Notes:

Location and Access

This store is located just off the circle around Lexington, but you have to watch to spot it.  There is quite a bit of parking, both in the store’s lot and nearby in the shopping center.

Facilities

The store looks nice inside and out, both clean and well designed.  There were plenty of table, some seats at the bar, and a few outside seats.  a bit cobbled together, but it is clean and comfortable inside.  There are quite a few tables and some outside seating.

Staff and Service

The service is pretty good.  I was seated and served quickly.

Sides

Onion Rings:  These were some of the best onion rings I’ve ever had, with a crispy beer-batter crust.  However, there were only five rings for a cost of $3, a bit high to me.

Dipping Sauce:  This didn’t taste bad, but it seemed a bit strange to me.  It was sort of a thick, sweet cocktail sauce.  I tried it, but I think the rings were better without it.
Sweet Tea:  A good, refreshing sweet tea that wasn’t overly sweet like so many people do it.

Value

Altogether, this meal cost me $20 with tip.  That’s pretty high for a burger.  The problem is that you have to order the side separately instead of it being included in the price.