When driving down Reynolda Road, you may have noticed a new restaurant on the block. What used to be Carmines 901 Grill has turned into a well-renowned gourmet burger restaurant, Hops Burger Bar. 

October 11th was the opening day of the new Hops, with this being their fourth location.  

The restaurant first began back in 2013 when David Essa and Chris Martin, the co-owner of the restaurant, opened their first location on Spring Garden Street in Greensboro. In 2015, the restaurant caught the eyes of millions. It was voted America’s Best Burger Restaurant by Tripadvisor, and the rest was history.

“Sales growth started from day one,” Chris Martin said. “When we won the TripAdvisor national burger award back in 2015, it went to another level.” 

As the burger joint gained a quick following, they were able to open another Hops in Greensboro and another in Chapel Hill.

With all of this hype that has been surrounding the restaurant, I was very curious, could it be that good as people say it is? I had to try it out for myself and see what all the buzz was all about.

As soon as I entered the restaurant, I instantly felt welcomed by the warm and friendly atmosphere of the place. The place was lively. The place was filled with families, couples, singles, all of them with the same smile on their faces as they chowed down on their meals. There were televisions displayed on the walls for everyone to watch and enjoy. The entire restaurant was done up in a bright hue, lit by lights that came down from the ceiling. The space was also well partitioned into a variety of seating options.

Looking at the menu, they have many different types of burgers, each of them having a unique twist. The most popular being the Hops Classic. They also have the option to create your own burger, allowing you to choose your side and craft a burger to your liking.     

Burgers are not the only thing on the menu; they have a wide range of different foods such as sandwiches, wings, and fresh salads. They also have craft beers, which is something that you would not expect to see at a burger place

“We felt there wasn’t a burger place that concentrated on burgers and craft beer. Most burger places concentrate on burgers and milkshakes. When we saw an opportunity for a niche, we jumped on it.” Chris said. 

After looking over all of the many different options, I went with the Hops Classic. The aroma of the burger was heavenly as with the appearance of the entire meal, which was beautifully presented. The burger had everything you could ask for in a burger, melted American cheese, crisp bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. The burger was accompanied by the side of golden brown fries sitting in a mini metal basket. 

The flavor of the well seasoned and tender Angus beef patty, the fresh lettuce, along with the melted cheese, is a combination that makes you want to dance in your seat because of how good it is. 

Of all of the burgers that I have had in my entire life, the Hops Classic is the most delicious burger I have ever eaten. Hops definitely stands true to the hype and is somewhere I would now point people to. It was a whole new experience that you will not get at any other burger place. 

Do not worry about rushing over, it is open every day of the week from 11 am to 11 pm, and on Fridays and Saturdays, they are open until midnight. The hype around the burger joint is well deserved and is a restaurant that is one of a kind. If you ever have the chance, you should hop your way over to Hops Burger Bar!