Gravel Driveway Repair in Lee, NH

EXETER — Lee Frank is bringing another restaurant to town, one he said will offer a “quick and easy” option for lunches and dinners.

The owner and head chef of Otis had recently taken over the space at 75 Portsmouth Ave. to open his third location of Lee Frank’s, an old-fashioned classic American burger and hot dog joint. The 35-seat space, located within Exeter Commons, also housed Donut Love before it closed earlier in April. He said the burger joint will be open by January.

“I think being in that plaza is a really good spot as far as parking and visibility, it’s also close to the hospital and downtown businesses,” he said. “It’s just going to be a third location, same menu, same concept, and we’re pretty excited.”

Frank opened Otis, a fine dining experience serving “Modern Americana” fare, at 4 Front St. in September 2016, and has since been regarded by locals as a pioneer in elevating the town’s palate.

However, Frank also wanted to bring a taste of his past into the area. He said he noticed the lack of burger joints when he moved to the Seacoast 20 years ago, giving him the idea for Lee Frank’s.

“I grew up in LA and burger joints are really a dime a dozen – I don’t necessarily mean fast food (chains) ... but a mom-and-pop – I just grew up eating them,” he said. “When I was in high school, I worked at a burger joint and I worked at a hot dog joint, and this concept was always in the back of my head.”

Frank debuted the first location of his burger joint in South Berwick, which is where his wife, Brooke, grew up, in 2021.

“My wife grew up in town,” he said, referring to South Berwick. “Her father used to own a business in town for 30 years so I think the idea of owning something in town is something she always liked as well.”

This past September, he also expanded Lee Frank's to a second location in Wells.

What’s on the menu at Lee Frank’s?

Frank said Exeter has always been at the back of his mind when it comes to having his burger joint, noting multiple requests from frequenters of Otis. When the space in the Exeter Commons was available, Frank knew that it was time.

“Exeter is a food hub,” he said. “There’s a ton of great restaurants and chefs and events that happen in Exeter that are just continuing to grow and get bigger. I’m definitely super honored to be part of the town and to have been so well-received from day one by the town.”

The menu at Lee Frank’s is simple, but consists of well-executed classics. From double cheeseburger and chili cheese hot dog, Frank said what’s important is execution and consistency in every dish that goes out the kitchen.

Each meal could also be requested to be served “dirty,” which is the addition of house sauce and grilled onions on top, inspired by In-N-Out’s “Animal style.” Lee Frank’s also offers sides such as chili fries and onion rings, and vanilla, strawberry and chocolate milk shakes for the perfect pairing.

Frank said he is still working on the days and hours of operation.

“We wanted to just keep it simple, classic American smash burgers,” he added. “This restaurant is kind of the amalgamation of three burger joints I grew up eating in LA anyways, where I just took a little bit that I love and remember the nostalgia of it.”

DOVER — Writer-director Robert Eggers' movie "Nosferatu" received Oscars nominations Thursday for four Academy Awards, including best cinematography.

The inspiration for the gothic vampire tale traces back to Lee, New Hampshire, where Eggers grew up. While attending Mast Way Elementary School in Lee as child, the first saw an image of Max Schrek as Count Orlok from F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent film "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror" on a book cover. This incited his love of the horror genre, his film nominated for multiple Oscar's decades later.

"Nosferatu," released on Christmas Day, was nominated for the following four Oscars:

"I’m incredibly proud of my collaborators and friends," Eggers said in a prepared statement. "Their artistry and devotion to their crafts inspires me. Their nominations couldn’t be more deserved."

Eggers credits many Granite State influences on his career as a filmmaker. He's given a special nod to Edward Langlois, founder of the Edwin Booth Theater in Dover, for "cementing" he wanted to be a director after inviting him and his friend Ashley Kelley Tata who co-produced a play of "Nosferatu" their senior year of high school and were invited to produce a more professional version at Langlois' theater.

"(It) was very thrilling, and it cemented the fact that I wanted to be a director, and also made 'Nosferatu' permanently, like a big part of who I am. New Hampshire roots are large for me, for sure," said Eggers.

The film features a star-studded cast with Lily-Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgard and more. The cinematographer is Jarin Blaschke, who is a long-time colleague of Eggers. This year's Academy Awards will air on ABC March 2 at 7 p.m.

(This story has been updated with Eggers' reaction.)