Downtown Flavortown

Date of Visit August 22nd 2026

Downtown Flavortown

The Real CHEEZY

Appearance – 4 pts

This burger looked exactly how a burger should look. The moment it hit the table, my mouth started watering and my stomach immediately filed a complaint about the wait time. It had that classic, indulgent burger appearance that practically dares you not to pick it up and take a bite. No gimmicks, no unnecessary flair, just a burger that looked ready for business. 

Bun – 8 pts

The bun was a pleasant surprise. Lightly buttered and toasted, it added an extra layer of flavor that elevated the entire burger. More importantly, it passed one of the toughest burger tests: structural integrity. This bun held together from first bite to last bite without turning into a soggy mess. That's a win in my book. 

Meat – 26 pts

The patty was technically a smash burger, but it came with more thickness than your typical smash-style offering. It was juicy, well-seasoned, and packed with flavor. Every bite delivered that satisfying beefy punch you're hoping for when ordering a burger. 

I opted to add bacon, and honestly, it felt less like an addition and more like a necessity. The bacon was crispy, flavorful, and took the burger to another level. It blended perfectly with the patty and added another layer of savory goodness. The meat portion of this burger absolutely carried its weight and then some. 

Veggies – 10 pts

The burger wasn't lacking in vegetables. The problem was that they seemed to be hiding. Everything was sliced so thin that most of the flavors got lost in the shuffle. 

This burger was crying out for a thick, juicy slice of tomato and a more generous helping of onion. The pickles were the only vegetables willing to step into the spotlight, and even they seemed fashionably late to the party. The lettuce also missed the mark because it arrived warm rather than crisp. That fresh crunch is one of the things that makes burger toppings shine, and it just wasn't there this time. 

Cheese – 13 pts

When you name a burger "The Real CHEEZY," you're setting expectations sky high. 

Thankfully, this burger delivers. 

The cheese was perfectly melted and loaded with sharp cheddar flavor. It coated the entire burger in creamy goodness and was easily the star of the show. Every bite reminded you exactly why this burger got its name. If you're a cheese lover, this is where you'll find your happiness. 

Dressing – 7 pts

The Real CHEEZY comes loaded with Guy's famous Donkey Sauce, which is essentially a garlic aioli. They weren't shy about applying it either. Every bite came with a satisfying drip factor that made the burger feel rich and indulgent. 

My only complaint was that the garlic flavor didn't stand out as much as I expected. The mayonnaise profile dominated the sauce, overshadowing the garlic. Even so, it was still a tasty addition that contributed nicely to the burger's overall flavor. 

Messiness – 3 pts

This burger definitely had some drip to it. Not enough to require a shower afterward, but enough that you knew you were eating a serious burger. A few extra napkins wouldn't hurt, but it never crossed into disaster territory. 

Burgerness – 8 pts

Some burgers take a few bites before you decide whether they're worth finishing. This wasn't one of those burgers. 

From the moment it arrived, I knew I wanted to destroy it. It had that undeniable burger quality that makes you ignore everything else on the table until it's gone. Thankfully, it lived up to the hype and delivered from start to finish. 

Bonus Round: Fries

The fry situation was interesting because Downtown Flavortown gives you three different styles: waffle fries, steak fries, and shoestring fries. 

Unfortunately, variety didn't always translate to quality. Some fries came out crispy, hot, and delicious. Others were soft, soggy, and lacking flavor. Every handful felt like a gamble. When they were good, they were really good. When they weren't, they felt like an afterthought. 

Final Verdict – 79/100

I've had Guy Fieri's burgers on a cruise before, and I came into Downtown Flavortown hoping for a comparable experience. I'm happy to report that this burger came pretty close. 

The Real CHEEZY delivers where it matters most: flavorful beef, excellent cheese, and a bun that can handle the job. While the vegetables could use some improvement and the fries were inconsistent, the burger itself is more than good enough to justify a return visit. 

If you find yourself in Myrtle Beach with some time to kill and a burger craving to satisfy, you can certainly do a lot worse than Downtown Flavortown. In fact, if you're a cheese lover, this might be exactly the stop you're looking for. 🍔🧀🔥

Mellow Mushroom

 

🍄 Mellow Mushroom Burger Review 🍄

Overall Thought:

Appearance: 4/5

Now this is how a burger should look. 

This thing rolled out looking like a magazine cover model for burgers. Stacked sky-high with fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, plenty of bacon, and a generous blanket of melted cheese. It had all the visual cues of greatness. 

The moment it hit the table, my mouth started watering. I was ready. My taste buds were lining up. Expectations were soaring. 

Unfortunately, appearance and performance ended up being in two different zip codes. 

Bun: 6/10

A classic white bread bun doing exactly what it was hired to do. 

It looked lightly toasted, held everything together, and never once threatened structural collapse. No soggy bottom. No disintegration halfway through. Just steady, dependable bun behavior from start to finish. 

That said, it brought absolutely nothing to the flavor party. No buttery notes. No toastiness. No personality. It was basically the burger equivalent of a folding chair. 

Meat: 22/30

The meat is supposed to be the headliner. 

This burger's meat showed up, took the stage, grabbed the microphone... and then stood there in complete silence. 

There was almost no flavor coming from the patties themselves. I kept searching for that savory, beefy goodness, but it never materialized. The bacon tried its best to carry the load, and occasionally I could taste it enough to remind me something was happening, but it wasn't nearly enough to rescue the burger. 

For a double-patty burger, flavor should not be this hard to find. 

Cheese: 10/15

This score hurts. 

Visually, this burger was absolutely loaded with cheese. Every patty was covered. There was melted goodness everywhere. On paper, this should have been a slam dunk. 

And yet somehow, every bite delivered only the faintest whisper of cheese. 

Not a shout. Not even a conversation. 

Just a polite little "hello" before disappearing entirely. 

When you can clearly see all that cheese and barely taste it, disappointment starts setting in. 

Veggies: 12/15

The veggies did a lot of the heavy lifting here. 

There was plenty of lettuce, tomato, and onion, which is always appreciated. The tomato looked the part but lacked the juicy freshness you hope for. The onion actually had a pretty nice flavor and brought some life to the burger. 

But the true MVP was the lettuce. 

Crispy. Fresh. Crunchy. 

And that's a problem. 

Nothing good comes from a burger where the lettuce is stealing the spotlight from the beef and cheese. When your brightest star is a leafy green, something has gone terribly wrong upstream. 

Dressing: 6/10

This was advertised as Mel's Secret Sauce. 

Those words set expectations. 

I was imagining something creamy, unique, flavorful, and memorable. Something that tied the whole burger together. 

Instead, what I got was mostly bland with a noticeable spice kick. 

Ironically, this sauce ended up being the most consistent source of flavor on the entire burger. Without it, I'm not sure the burger would have had much personality at all. 

The sauce wasn't bad. 

It just wasn't worthy of the "secret sauce" hype. 

Messiness: 1/5

I used half a napkin. 

Half. 

That's the review. 

A great burger should at least make you question your life choices halfway through eating it. This thing barely made me wipe my hands. 

Burgerness: 6/10

Every great burger has a moment. 

That first bite where your eyes widen and you immediately know you're onto something special. 

This burger never had that moment. 

What we got was two slabs of mostly flavorless meat on a bun with toppings. It checked all the burger boxes mechanically, but there was no excitement, no creativity, and no wow factor. 

It was technically a burger. 

That's about the nicest thing I can say. 

Final Verdict: 67/100

I probably should have seen this coming. 

After all, Mellow Mushroom is a pizza place that happens to serve burgers. I got lucky at the last non-burger joint I reviewed and started believing lightning might strike twice. 

It did not. 

This burger wasn't awful. It wasn't even bad. It was simply one of the blandest burgers I've had in quite some time. Everything looked right. Everything was assembled correctly. The ingredients seemed fine. 

The flavor just never showed up. 

Would I go back to Mellow Mushroom? 

Absolutely. 

Would I order this burger again? 

Honestly... maybe. 

The burger was so unbelievably bland that I'm almost suspicious. It was so lacking in flavor that part of me wonders if I caught it on an off day. Maybe the seasoning got left in the kitchen. Maybe someone forgot a step. Maybe there's more to this story. 

A retest may be necessary. 

For now, this burger earns a 67/100. Not because it failed spectacularly, but because it never really showed up to compete. 

Stay tuned. The sequel review might be coming.