The Cleveland and Detroit rivalry is spreading to Akron after Motor City journalists tried Swensons for the first time at Rocket Arena.
Writers from the Detroit Free Press and MLive.com were in town as the Cleveland Cavaliers play against the Pistons in the 2026 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Swensons was added to the Cleveland arena food offerings for the Cavs’ 2025-26 season.
So, what did the out-of-towners think of the Beacon Journal’s 2026 best burger winner?
‘Out of all the sauces you could throw on a burger why these two?’ Pistons writers aren’t fans of Swensons
Omari Sankofa II, Pistons beat writer for the Detroit Free Press, had the signature Galley Boy with onion rings. The Galley Boy is a double cheeseburger layered with two Swensons signature sauces on a toasted bun with a green olive pick.
Although he did like the onion rings, he didn’t know why it was called the “signature sandwich” when it wasn’t good.
“The sauces to me didn’t really fit the burger and the burger was small, too. … I didn’t like the sauces on there. It was a weird flavor profile, out of all the sauces you could throw on a burger, why these two?” Sankofa said.
Jacob Richman from MLive.com had the double cheeseburger with fries. He also said the size of the sandwich was a little off and it was a bit smooshed.
“The meat-to-bun ratio isn’t particularly good, a lot of bun, not enough meat,” he said. “Not my favorite burger by any means and there were no toppings on it, nothing very appealing on that, just a burger and cheese.”
Sankofa said he would give Swensons another chance; Richman encouraged people to try it despite his negative review.
Both reporters would prefer a burger from Detroit.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Detroit Pistons writers try Swensons in Cleveland. They weren’t fans
Reporting by Alisson Toro-Lagos, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
