Jan. 25, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Vanguard Hospitality.

Of all the guest feedback Minervas receives, there has never been an email like this.

And Lacey, who tasted the to-go order of a lifetime recently, had never written one like it, either.

“I have never in my three decades of living written to a restaurant to let them know the breadth and width and the length of my satisfaction, but this root beer burger … oh my WOW,” she wrote.

Put a Root Beer Float Burger on the menu at a classic fine dining restaurant like Minervas, and there’s going to be some talk.

But the Minervas team didn’t anticipate quite this much talk around this year’s Downtown Burger Battle entry.

Lacey was just getting started.

She compared the first taste of her burger to hearing a baby laugh for the first time, Fourth of July fireworks or the feeling of a cat actually being nice to her instead of ignoring her.

“It was so incredible, both in taste and texture; full of meat, and still invitingly soft and creamy,” she wrote.

“I think it somehow cured my daddy issues, for which my therapist will thank you forever. My tastebuds were on a rollercoaster that took me up to heaven and then landed me back down in the throes of bliss while still on earth.”

Still not done.

“Whoever concocted this blessed burger needs to be hugged hard by someone they love, immediately on my behalf,” she concluded.

“I am a changed woman.”

Vanguard Hospitality CEO Ken Bashore had never seen a review quite like it.

“It’s the funniest one I’ve ever read,” he said. “I’m always amazed that food can move us all, and we definitely accomplished that for Lacey.”

She’s not the only one. While Bashore has been so busy with the Minervas team trying to keep up with demand for burger, “I haven’t been able to follow much of it,” he said.

Here’s a sampling of what else guests have been saying as they sampled the Root Beer Float Burger:

“The burger patty was juicy and had a nice spice to it. The ice cream WORKED! Crazy as it sounds, I would encourage you to put your first reaction aside and try this burger. It was a favorite of several on my tour.”

“The burger was DELICIOUS and wins my vote for most unique. The hot/cold, sweet/spicy was a great combo!”

“What a perfect balance of sweet and salty. Tied at the top for me.”

Bashore acknowledges he can relate to those not quite sure about the idea of a root beer float burger.

“We all had to be convinced to try it at first, and once we did, we knew we had our entry,” he said. “Your taste buds are going on the Tilt-A-Whirl in the best possible way.”

What to expect: A charbroiled burger from South Dakota-based Hadrick Ranch, with frozen vanilla bean ice cream, root beer gastrique, chipotle aioli and potato straws, served with a side of fries.

Minervas has sold even more burgers than this time during its record-smashing year in 2023.

Bigger picture, “This entry has given us a license to do some things that aren’t Minerva-esque, and that’s going to be good for our restaurants and good for our guests,” Bashore said. “We already think the Burger Battle is a win-win-win for restaurants, for downtown and for our guests, and because we stretched to try something different, we think those benefits are going to continue long after the battle is decided.”

Remember: You have until Jan. 31 to participate in the Downtown Burger Battle!