The Burger That Saved My Marriage

The plan was flawless, which, as every married person knows, meant it was immediately in danger.

In an earnest attempt to be a good husband, I had arranged a Saturday night date in Bellevue: dinner at Fogo de Chao, followed by a movie at Cinemark in Lincoln Square. I made the reservation and bought tickets. All we had to do was get in the car with enough time to make dinner. Miraculously, we did. We even had 30 extra minutes, which in the Seattle area can create a dangerous and unjustified sense of confidence.

A dimly lit table with wine glasses, water glasses, and candles sets the scene; people are seated and conversing in the background, perhaps toasting to milestones like marriage.

The date night I planned.

Photo by Brandon Ferguson

Fate had been tempted, and Bellevue road construction entered the battle for a nice evening.

With northbound I-405 shut down and detours backed up in every direction, I watched our margin disappear in real time. The GPS went from “you’ll make it” to “you’ll be a little late” to “your dinner reservation now belongs to history.” By the time we finally reached Lincoln Square, we were hungry, disappointed, and operating under a universally understood marital emergency: two starving people sharing a car will inevitably end poorly.

Dense traffic on a multi-lane highway with vehicles moving in both directions, divided by a barrier, and an overpass with more cars in the background—much like the bustling energy of a food court where everyone’s after their favorite burger, or the flowing harmony of a marriage where two paths come together yet remain distinct.

Washington traffic.

Photo by Brandon Ferguson

A traditional sit-down restaurant was out. The movie was creeping closer. I scanned the Lincoln Square directory, hoping for something fast, still open, and worthy of a thoughtful husband.

That’s when I spotted Great State Burger.

A person in a blue plaid shirt orders a burger at a Great State Burger counter with staff inside, surrounded by colorful signage and menu boards—perhaps savoring the kind of meal that almost saved my marriage.

When plans changed, we found another way.

Photo by Brandon Ferguson

I was saved.

I am a huge fan of Great State Burger. Since all of its beef is local and grass-fed, I know that I am always going to get a great burger. I was beyond a rational level of hungry could feel myself nearing hangry. Great State had the answer for this: the Boss Burger. It has two large beef patties, bacon, cheese, pickles, and house sauce. The burger with fries and soda calmed the hangry demon in me that was going to increase the likelihood that I would say something inadvisable. So far, my grumpiness had mostly been pointed at Seattle’s penchant for shutting down freeways. My spouse went straight for the Korean BBQ burger, topped with a house-made gochujang BBQ sauce, bacon, and jalapeños.

We sat in Lincoln Square with our burgers, just a few minutes from the theater, and most importantly, enjoyed our time together. The wait was short, the food was fresh, and the night was back. We were close enough to the theater to relax and full enough to remember we actually liked each other.

Great State Burger saved date night. Thank you!