Friday Night Date Night is a sacred tradition in my world, usually involving a solo adventure and…read moreintentionally spoiling myself. And on this particular Friday, I was craving a burger. Badly. When I stumbled across THEA's Bacon Brie Pear Burger, I knew exactly where I was headed. THEA was probably the last place I expected to visit for a cheeseburger, given its upscale reputation, but that burger was calling my name! So I made a 5:15pm reservation for one and prepared to pop my fancy THEA cherry.
I arrived to a nearly empty parking lot, snagged a spot right outside the door and settled in for dinner. Despite the upscale atmosphere, I felt perfectly comfortable in my jeans and leopard print sneakers. Some guests were dressed up, others were casual and nobody seemed to think twice about my solo dining adventure.
I ordered a Diet Coke, the Bacon Brie Pear Burger and upgraded my side to the Crispy Brussels Sprouts for an additional charge.
THEA's burger features Wagyu beef from Eleven Oaks Farm, roasted Bosc pears, Brie cheese, arugula, fig jam and a rustic roll. This burger absolutely screamed, "Fall is here!" The beef practically melted in my mouth, while the thinly sliced pears, creamy melted Brie and fig jam created this incredible combination of sweet, savory and cozy fall flavors. It was everything I love about a traditional burger, just dressed up for sweater weather! And the bun? Fantastic! I'm not usually a bun enthusiast, but this one was tall and fluffy with a slightly crusty exterior and wonderfully soft interior. The perfect complement to an already phenomenal burger. Hands down, one of the best burgers I've ever eaten!
The Brussels sprouts were equally impressive! Crispy fried baby sprouts drizzled with a citrus honey chili glaze that was perfectly sweet and tangy without being spicy, then generously topped with big chunks of crumbled feta. Skipping the fries was an excellent decision!
At one point, I caught myself sitting there in this beautiful, upscale restaurant, wearing my leopard print sneakers, eating a cheeseburger and doing my little happy food dance. Just me, in my own little world, enjoying one heck of a Friday Night Date Night.
I could only finish half the burger and Brussels sprouts, so my fantastic waitress happily packaged everything up for me. She was friendly, attentive, chatty and clearly enjoying her work, which made the experience even better.
My total bill was approximately $32, which I thought was incredibly reasonable for the quality of the meal. Especially since Future Me gets to enjoy the leftovers! I checked out the dessert options, but nothing caught my attention this time. Apparently, they change regularly, so I'll keep an eye on those during future visits.
Pro Tip: My 5:15pm reservation was perfect! Parking was plentiful when I arrived, but by the time I left shortly after 6pm, the restaurant and parking lot were packed.
THEA absolutely exceeded my expectations. I went looking for a great burger and discovered one of my favorite meals in a very long time! And I don't care how fancy the restaurant is. If they're serving a cheeseburger this good, I'll happily show up in my leopard print sneakers and order it again. THEA, you've officially become my new burger-craving destination!