There’s a fine line between romance and absolute madness, and this Columbus date idea walks it perfectly. It’s equal parts adorable bonding experience and competitive food-induced delirium, and if you and your partner love a little friendly chaos, this is the date for you.
Just beware, this is not for faint-hearted couples.
Step 1: Thurman’s Café – A Love Story Told Through (Way Too Much) Eating
Nothing says romance like racing to eat a massive burger that probably weighs as much as a newborn child, which is exactly what you’ll be doing at Thurman’s Café, home of the legendary Thurmanator.
The challenge? See who can eat more of a Thurmanator in one sitting.
This literal skyscraper of beef consists of:
- 24 ounces of ground beef (yes, a pound and a half)
- A mound of ham, bacon, American & mozzarella cheeses
- Lettuce, tomato, mushrooms, banana peppers, sautéed onions & mushrooms, and mayo
- A bun that is absolutely just there for moral support
- If all that isn’t enough, throw in chips and a dill pickle spear on the side
If you’re thinking “there is no way that I can eat an entire Thurmanator,” you’re not the first. To make things somewhat fair, you can handicap yourself or your partner based on previous eating performances. If you know your date can eat like a linebacker, maybe they get the full Thurmanator while you take on its slightly-less-intimidating sibling, the Thurman Burger (which is still massive, but at least doesn’t require an emergency food coma recovery period).
The first to finish wins eternal bragging rights (or at least until next year’s rematch).
The loser? Has to buy dessert.
But honestly, there are no real losers here… except maybe your digestive system or your sewage system at home.
Step 2: The Sweet Taste of Victory (or Consolation Prize Desserts)
Once the burger battle is over, it’s time to waddle (because let’s be honest, neither of you are walking normally after that meal) over to Schmidt’s Fudge Haus or one of Columbus’ best candy, chocolate, or ice cream shops (full list here).
If you won, congratulations! Your partner is about to buy you some of the best sweets in town as your well-earned prize. If you lost, well, at least you still get to eat dessert.
And if your partner refuses to pay or uses the excuse “I’m way too full for dessert,” you have our full support to (lovingly) shame them publicly.
Bonus Round: DO NOT SKIP
If you’re still functioning after this absolute assault on your stomach, consider making a stop at the nearby Scioto Audubon Metro Park, the Scioto Mile, or Schiller Park for a digestive walk (aka a slow-paced, regret-filled attempt to get your body to digest everything). It’s romantic, it’s scenic, and speaking from experience, it actually is super helpful and speeds up your recovery enough to think about eating again sometime next week.