Feast your eyes, feasters, on the most wonderful smash burger and milkshake you’ll ever see! Behold, it’s right under your nose in the small town of Sewickley: Moonlit Burgers.
I don’t typically care for burgers, but everyone I talked to raved about this place. It’s buried behind two buildings in a sort of alleyway, truly putting the “hidden” in hidden gem. The building is simple, but the inside is unique with vibrant colors and a modern setting. There’s even an entire wall mural constructed from different colored food trays!
The food service is similar to a fast-food establishment. Upon walking in, you’ll notice an ordering counter with a cashier ready to take your order. After ordering, they’ll give you a table number, and you get to choose whichever table you’d like, as long as you put your corresponding number on it. Within 10 minutes, your food will be delivered to your table. It’s amazing how quick they are while maintaining top quality food.
I ordered the Moonlit Burger Double and a S’mores Milkshake, and my family and I split an order of cheese fries and a regular shoestring. We learned the hard way that we only needed one basket of fries as they’re absolutely humongous, and the baskets are filled to the brim.
These were some of the best fries I’ve ever tasted. I don’t love french fries, especially not the thin cut ones, but something about these were so enticing and had me eating half of the basket. They were perfectly fried, and the cheese sauce was creamy and a perfect topping for such a simple dish. If you like carnival-style fries, I highly ordering a basket.
Not only were the fries amazing, but the milkshake was even better. This isn’t your basic milkshake; it’s a beast. Chocolate and marshmallow syrup painted the inside of the cup, and a full-size graham cracker topped the shake. Flavor-wise, it was nearly perfection. It tasted just like a s’more: salty and sweet with a lightly charred taste. Shake Shack doesn’t even compare to this milkshake.
The final food, and arguably the most important to review, is Moonlit’s Classic Moonlit Double. This burger featured their signature Moonlit Sauce, and it did not disappoint. The sauce was tangy with a bit of a kick, but its sweet flavor balanced it out.
As a whole, this burger was irresistible. The patty tasted as though it was flame-grilled with thin edges and a soft middle. They’re smash patties, which makes them easier to eat, too. Moonlit uses potato rolls, which are softer and better than classic burger buns, in my opinion. Overall, the patty mixed with the melted cheese and juicy pickles was the perfect cure for my hunger.
The only beef (get it?) that I have with Moonlit Burgers is how expensive everything is. For being a semi-fast food restaurant, you’d think prices would be lower. It costed us $65 for three burgers, two fries, and three drinks.
Still, Moonlit Burgers gets a 9/10 from me. If you want quality food in a casual setting, run to Moonlit!
If You Go:
523 Locust Pl.
Sewickley, PA
(412) 783-1030
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
IG: moonlitburgers
