By Jackson Hare, Education and Enrichment Coordinator

A burst of warm, savory nostalgia greets you as you bite into Swensons Drive In’s limited-time Thanksgiving on a Bun, a feast of holiday flavors nestled between two soft buns.

With a location just a short drive from Xavier’s campus, Swensons has unveiled several seasonal menu items, including the Thanksgiving on a Bun burger, joined by a new side option of sweet potato fries and a pumpkin shake.

Available until Dec. 1, the Thanksgiving on a Bun burger puts several twists on the  Thanksgiving meal favorites including a turkey burger, swiss cheese, sweet potato fries and stuffing topped with cranberry mayo, all between two buns.

Of the various ingredients, the cranberry mayo gives each bite a luscious sweetness that not only elevates the flavor, but also wraps the burger in a much-needed kiss of moisture. It is the cranberry sauce you never knew your Thanksgiving leftovers were missing.

The burger totals to $7.50, which is a rather budget-friendly option compared to other burger options on campus, and it is certainly more unique.

While the traditional Thanksgiving dinner conjures images of a perfectly set table, candlelit warmth and a slow meal with family, Swensons’ Thanksgiving on a Bun flips the script. There’s something delightfully untraditional about tearing into this festive burger in your car with friends well past midnight and under the glow of streetlights — an atmosphere that is just as communal, but with a rebellious, late-night twist.

The burger delivers pure, delicious flavor — free from the tension of family dinners, where even a simple pass of the green beans can be tainted by that one uncle’s offhanded microaggression. Taking a bite is blissfully apolitical. There’s no stress or anxiety over the pesky aunt’s insistence that you better find a romantic partner soon or questions about what you’re doing after you graduate.

A Thanksgiving dinner without these classic figures is but a mere fantasy. However, the Thanksgiving on a Bun burger makes it a reality with delight in every bite.

Just when you think it can’t get any better, you can wash it down with a pumpkin shake topped with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon sugar. Known for their shakes, Swensons’ pumpkin shake is an annual favorite that never disappoints.

With a flavor reminiscent of the perfect bite of pumpkin pie adorned with a plump mountain of whipped cream, the shake seamlessly harmonizes with the sweet and savory flavors of the burger.

The only downside is that your stomach and tongue might not agree on their verdict of the burger — it’s irresistible taste cleverly detracts from  the consequences that will surely follow.

Arguably, this only serves to preserve an essential and unavoidable aspect of the holiday dinner: the aftermath. Though it is a vibe to eat with your friends in your parked car, my advice is to finish the shake at home. You don’t want to be around your friends when sh*t starts to hit the fan.

Nonetheless, the burger’s delectable and unique flavors are worth the pain. Take a bite.