The last few restaurants to arrive in the Glen Allen area have focused their menus on one thing: Burgers. So when I heard about the latest one I wasn’t particularly eager to check it out. But I couldn’t help but be drawn in by the name: That’s BS (Burgers & Sports). The restaurant name alone is enough to pique a person’s curiosity.
I joined my family for dinner at That’s BS. The restaurant is located near Broad and Springfield, in the building where Hams once was. The first thing I noticed was that the restaurant was almost as cold inside as it was outside. Perhaps they were having heating problems at the entrance. The bathrooms were freezing and we were cold at our table. We mentioned something to our waiter and it did eventually warm up some, but still a little cold. The inside layout is basically the same as Hams, but That’s BS added a glass door to the bar entrance to keep the smoke and noise in the bar. However, That’s BS is a sports restaurant, so you don’t have to sit in the bar to watch the game. The tables section is outfitted with many televisions to allow guests to watch their favorite team while enjoying a burger and beer.
We started out with an appetizer of the bacon cheese fries. They were delicious. A mound of fries smothered with melted cheese and bacon, and a side of ranch dipping sauce. We ended ordering a second basket of the bacon cheese fries because they were so delicious. The portion of the appetizer only looked to be made for about two people (we had five people).
I wanted to find out what makes That’s BS better than the other burger joints around. For starters, the menu includes a Bison Burger. (For those of you who aren’t sure, bison meat is a type of buffalo, and is leaner, more tender and flavorful than typical beef from a cow.) I jumped quickly on that and ordered a Bison Bacon Cheeseburger. Although the menu features burgers (hamburger, cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, bison burger, black bean burger), it included other options such as a grilled chicken sandwich and more. Admittedly I was so excited about the existence of a bison burger that I neglected to analyze the rest of the menu. However, it seemed that if burgers aren’t your thing then you were at the wrong restaurant. There were very few non-burger options.
Perhaps the best part of the menu is the pricing structure. The burgers range in price from $4.99 to $6.99, which is a great price. You can even get chili or cole slaw on your burger for that price. The one caveat is that the $4.99 to $6.99 price tag is just the burger and toppings. No fries or other sides are included with it. You can order a side of fries, but it will cost extra. This is great for people who want a great tasting burger but who don’t want to be forced to pay for fries with it.
Everyone’s food tasted great. The burgers were cooked perfect, and the chicken sandwich was not overcooked or dried out. The buttery toasted buns made the sandwiches even better. For food quality alone, That’s BS gets a B+. They only falter some because their menu selection is very limited if you don’t want a burger.
As with nearly any restaurant experience, the service you receive usually depends on the server you get dealt. We ate at That’s BS the weekend it first opened. Our server was not able to answer every question we had, but was pretty knowledgeable considering it was only his first weekend on the job. He was friendly and well-attentive. For service alone, That’s BS gets a B+.
Perhaps the one area where That’s BS is lacking is the atmosphere. Most of the walls were all the same color, and nearly empty with the exception of the TVs. It was also about sixty degrees inside the whole time we were there, which was just uncomfortable. And the waiting area and restrooms were even colder. That’s BS gets a C- for atmosphere.
Overall, That’s BS is a good place to check out for a delicious burger and some sports. Their burgers and fries are certainly better than that of other newer restaurants in the area, and the prices are fair. Everyone there was friendly and fun, and I intend on returning the next time I have a craving for bison! Overall, That’s BS gets a B from me in the burger joint category.
Comment and interact