Spending time with family in the mid-Atlantic area this week, we’ve done lots of driving and have been eating on different schedules. With a 6:00 Little League game to watch on Monday, we weren’t ready to eat on the drive there. Instead we decided to enjoy the warm late April weather and the athletic talents of 7 and 8 year olds, especially of one 8 year old in particular, and dine later.
By the time the game ended and hugs and congratulations were given, it was a little after 8. We decided to start our drive and find a place to eat on the way. Luckily for us, we found Cheeseburger in Paradise. As fans of Jimmy Buffett, it seemed that this would have to be a fun restaurant for us to try.
Walking into the restaurant, “Cheeseburger in Paradise” was playing over the speakers. I did worry that if the song were played repeatedly, dinner could become painful. However, it was simply good timing, as a variety of songs played throughout our stay.
Decorated in a beach theme, it was a nice relaxing environment for us to enjoy. Our server came to our table promptly, offered to bring us water, and give us a moment to review the menu. My husband enjoys a frozen drink, which made their house cocktail the perfect beverage for him. The Cheeseburger in Paradise Cocktail (simply known as the CIP) had “frozen layers of Parrot Bay Rum Piña Colada, Cruzan Estate Dark Rum Runner, Margaritaville Margarita and Strawberry Daiquiri, prepared with fruit and juices and surrounded by an ocean of Hiram Walker Blue Curacao”. Although pretty sweet, which our server kindly told him during ordering, it was a refreshing beverage after a day of heat. I ordered the Sexy Peach. (How could I resist a name like that?) This drink was made the way I like, slightly sweet and light. Made with Appleton Estate V/X, X-Rated Fusion, Peach Schnapps, peach flavor, lemonade and a dash of cinnamon, it was cool and easily sipped.
After placing drink orders, our server asked if we would want any appetizers. He suggested the Spicy Queso & Chips, which seemed like a good indulgence before dinner. Although the menu says that it is made with cheddar and asiago cheeses, it seemed more like processed cheese, but was fine nonetheless. The chips appeared to be freshly made, and the dip had a bit of heat to it, making a great combination of flavors.
For our dinner, I decided to try something off of their sandwich menu, the Havana Club Wrap. Even though this restaurant is named for its burgers, this wrap seemed to be the perfect fit for me. Made with turkey, ham, bacon, pepper jack, mango sauce, and cream cheese on a sun-dried tomato wrap, it had a great combination of flavors. (Not a fan of bacon, I decided to share that portion of my sandwich with my husband.) Once assembled this sandwich is grilled, which produced a warm, gooey sandwich. Although there were hints of mango in the sandwich, I requested a side of sauce for dipping. Bacon removed and dip added, this sandwich was a winner. It was served with a side of sweet potato chips, which also seemed to be freshly made and were nicely crisp and salty.
My husband decided to go with the obvious choice of a burger. However, with about a dozen options, choosing took a moment. He decided to try the Blue Cheese Blast Burger, which was a combination of blue cheese, onion strings, and Asian mayo (plus my bacon). He found it to be a solid burger, not the best burger he’d had, but still tasty. He chose a side of coleslaw as his side dish. This coleslaw had a nice combination of sweetness and crunch without an abundance of sauce.
This restaurant was a great find for us. We had good food and drinks, well timed and polite service, and a fun atmosphere in which to enjoy ourselves. If we find ourselves near a Cheeseburger in Paradise in the future, we gladly would dine there again.
