Wahlburgers

319 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh

919-703-0833

Wahlburgers, one of the Triangle’s most buzzed about restaurant openings of 2018, is now open on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. What’s with the hype? It’s the first North Carolina location for the Boston-based fast-casual burger chain created by the Wahlberg family, which includes celebrities Mark and Donnie and their chef brother, Paul. Wahlburgers is also the subject of an Emmy-nominated A&E reality show of the same name, which follows the restaurant chain’s expansion (it’s now up to twenty-five locations).

Vibe: Sports bar meets fast-food joint. The décor is an homage to the brothers’ various activities: the row of flat-screen televisions above the bar alternate between live sports and reruns of Wahlburgers; oversize posters of the brothers’ favorite burgers line the wall; and there’s a lightbox with movie titles hanging overhead. (No mention of Mark’s time in the Funky Bunch or posters of his Calvin Klein underwear modeling days, or Donnie’s musical past as a member of New Kids on the Block.)

Menu: Burgers, hearty sandwiches, and, for the bun-averse, Wahlbowls (burger bowls), salads, and sides like fries, tater tots, and Alma’s Macaroni Salad (their mom’s recipe). Beverages include frappes (aka milkshakes) both benign and boozy, cocktails, wine, and beer, including the Wahlbrewski, a custom unfiltered Pale Ale from Boston-based Harpoon Brewery.

Price Range: Basic burgers (House Burgers) start at $7.95 and signature creations (Specialty Burgers) range from $8.95 to $10.95 (not including the Impossible Burger); you can add free toppings like house-made pickles and sauces or $1 toppings like specialty cheeses, a fried egg, bacon, or onion rings.

What to Order: If it’s a classic burger you’re after, opt for the Our Burger (Paul’s favorite), where the chuck-short-rib-brisket-blend patty comes with LTOP, yellow American cheese (listed on the menu as “government cheese,” a nod to the rags part of the Wahlbergs’ rags-to-riches story), and Wahl sauce (Paul’s mayo-and-ketchup-based take on special sauce). It’s a single one-third-pound patty, so if you’re more than modestly hungry, upgrade to the Double Decker.

Unless you’ve got a hankering for Thanksgiving leftovers (Mark’s favorite features a turkey burger piled with stuffing, butternut squash, and orange-cranberry sauce) or fancy one of the specific combinations listed under Specialty Burgers (Donnie’s favorite includes white cheddar, bacon, and barbecue sauce), you’re better off to customize an Our Burger with free or $1 toppings. Vegetarians can still experience the Wahlburger touch with the Impossible Burger; the plant-based veggie patty is dressed with Wahl sauce, chili-spiced tomatoes, and caramelized onions.

Among the sides, the Crispy Yukon French Fries didn’t live up to their name, so if you’re a fan of sweet potatoes, the Sweet Potato Tots are a nice alternative. All Smahlburgs (kids’ meals) come with fries, so if your child’s appetite skews small, skip ordering your own and share instead. A few taps are dedicated to North Carolina beers, so pair your burger with suds like Lonerider Brewing Company’s Shotgun Betty or Appalachian Mountain Brewery’s Long Leaf IPA.

A note on seating: most of the restaurant is dedicated to table service, but you can also order at the counter (aka the hostess stand) and wait for your food in the designated counter-service seating area. All food is cooked to order, so if you’ve got a smaller party, want to save money on tipping, or don’t think you’ll order additional food, opt for counter service.

Perfect For: Families with kids, fans of the Wahlburgers television show, curious foodies.