The burgers are made from half-pound certified Angus Beef and is served with fries. Pictured here is the Overload burger with Swiss cheese, cream cheese, applewood smoked bacon, grilled onion, pickle, lettuce, and BBQ aioli.Â
The Madness Sushi, Burger & Bar in downtown Morganton held a soft opening Thursday evening.
MADISON LIPE / THE PAPER
The Madness is now open. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.Â
DEVAN BERRY / THE PAPER
The Takoyaki Balls are six fried octopus dumplings drizzled with unagi sauce and sprinkled with bonito flakes.Â
DEVAN BERRY / THE PAPER
The burgers are made from half-pound certified Angus Beef and is served with fries. Pictured here is the Overload burger with Swiss cheese, cream cheese, applewood smoked bacon, grilled onion, pickle, lettuce, and BBQ aioli.Â
Morganton residents have been eagerly awaiting the opening of The Madness Sushi, Burger & Bar downtown since renovations began in December 2024. So eager that some have ventured to Asheville to give it a try before doors open in Morganton.
The wait is finally over.
The restaurant had its soft opening Thursday evening. In Root & Vine’s old location at 139 W. Union St., employees welcomed customers waiting to try fresh sushi, and classic and creative burgers. The liquor license is still in the works but should come through in the next two weeks.
The hours of operation will be from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., according to owner Aaron Cheng. The grand opening, he said, will be scheduled in a couple of weeks. Training continues for the more than two dozen employees he hired.
The menu at the Morganton restaurant will mirror The Madness locations in Asheville. Cheng noted, however, that Morganton’s location is the largest, at around 4,500 square feet, and has some unique touches appropriate for Morganton.
When Cheng and his crew started renovations last winter, the building needed extensive upfits: new kitchen equipment, expansion of the bar area, and other changes.
Landlord Eric Cantor also helped demolish and tile the entire floor of the restaurant and the restaurant’s HVAC unit was also replaced. The restaurant will have a similar layout to the Merrimon Avenue and Candler locations in Asheville.
Madison Lipe is the municipal reporter for The Paper. She can be reached at 828-445-8595 or madison@thepaper.media.
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