Treat reopens for lunch on Fridays, eyes Saturdays next

Treat, a beloved downtown Morganton eatery, opened for lunch on May 24 for the first time since COVID to fulfill a special request from NCSSM parents on graduation day. The success of the pop-up event inspired the restaurant to officially resume lunch service on Fridays only and has become a must-visit lunch spot to end the work week.

Many Burke County restaurants are still recovering from the effects of COVID, but Sabrina Hurt, owner of Treat, says the pandemic was the catalyst she needed to take a well-deserved break and settle into the ease of updating the restaurant to reopen three months after the shutdown. 

Adorned with string lights and tree branches lining the ceiling, the garden-themed dining room, with pops of eggplant purple and hunter green, offers a cozy and intimate space for diners to enjoy the ambiance. Hurt created the unique, DIY bar made of 35,000 pennies to give the bar an added touch. Treat’s decor changes seasonally keeping the restaurant fully engaging to the eye throughout the year. 

On a recent Thursday evening, Hurt told the story of how Treat’s transformation from gift shop to full-service restaurant has been a gradual process with its share of growing pains. 

In 2014, Hurt and her former business partner opened the space on West Union Street as a cozy gift shop, serving only wine and cheese. What started as a “hobby job” bloomed into a full-service restaurant because of customer requests. 

Customers began asking for small plates -- first salads, then sandwiches. She obliged. Hurt says after about six months of the first menu, she began to receive feedback from her female customers. 

“Sabrina, I love Treat, but my husband would never eat here," they would say. "He needs a meal!”

In 2015, a full kitchen was installed. 

“It’s a little kitchen,” Hurt said, in comparison to a typical-sized restaurant kitchen. The diminutive size limits how many diners Treat can accommodate.

“I always feel bad saying no,” Hurt said, referring to the restaurant's capacity. Treat accommodates up to three parties of six per night, with an exception for one party of eight on Thursdays and Saturdays.

During the conversation, Hurt asked a waitress to bring several lunch options to the table. Each menu item was delivered with a description. 

“This is our salad with our housemade Caesar dressing with a pan-seared salmon filet and freshly grated parmesan cheese and tomatoes and housemade croutons as well,” she said.

The menu also features crispy, deep-fried tofu in an Asian reduction sauce topped with sesame seeds and green onions for garnish with a plate of buttermilk fish & chips with a housemade lemon aioli to follow. There’s also the savory beef burger, coated with a sweet Asian sauce, tangy sweetness, a recipe concocted by Hurt. 

“I say a treat is different for every person, and it is our goal that anyone that comes in can find theirs,” Hurt assured.

 The wide variety of items on the lunch menu was intentionally made and planned with gluten-free and vegan options. Similar to the dinner offerings, the lunch items are categorized as Greens, Starters, Sandwiches, Entrees, and Sides.  Head chef Starla Ivey had a lead role in crafting the menu. Ivey has been with Treat almost seven years.

“She’s incredibly talented with an amazing palette,” Hurt said.

When asked about more lunch dates being added, Hurt highlighted storage and staffing as the main issues, but with the newly hired sous chef and renovations set to be complete in September, Hurt sees Saturday as a future lunch date soon. Treat is now open for lunch on Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

“We’re only starting with Fridays because I always believe in under-promise over-deliver,” Hurt asserted. “I really want us to get the volume up for Fridays and see how we can handle that with the staffing.”

Hurt sees Treat’s growth as one of several in a blossoming downtown, where new restaurants bring added vitality. 

“I think as a community, we’re at a really exciting time. Root & Vine has just moved into their new space, Toners just opened– Jim and Iris are great people. The Reptile Cantina opened, and Ono Poke Bowl,” Hurt acknowledged. “I am a believer that the more we have, the more people will come. I think it’s a really good thing to have more restaurants. We have a wonderful downtown.”