Our Overall Rating:
Taste: 4 stars
Experience: 1 star
Staff: 5 stars
NOTE: The following article has been updated to reflect the product instead of the restaurant that served it.
Let me start by saying this was my first visit to a chain here in SWFL, BurgerFi. I was googling their options on my way there, and saw that the “veggie” burger had cheese and eggs. While I do eat both of these, I only eat rennet-free cheese. Since I couldn’t confirm what BurgerFi used, I chose the vegan burger (known as the “Beyond Burger”) when I got there. First, I want to say that the staff at the location I went to was great. Super accommodating, friendly, quick to answer questions, and they even brought out a water bowl for my pup as we dined on the patio. (Bonus points for any restaurant that lets you eat with your pup!)
Now, as for the actual burger: this is where things started heading downhill. I had seen a tagline that said: “The veggie burger that bleeds”… I didn’t really register just what that might mean. And again, I take responsibility for that. Being out of the country for the last several years, I’m just becoming aware of some of the new brands and products. One of those is the “Beyond Burger”, served at BurgerFi, but actually a product from “Beyond Meat“, a company that makes meat alternatives. To be fair, kudos to the BeyondBurger team for creating the most meat-realistic “veggie” burger I’ve personally ever seen… but it was just a little too realistic for this veggie girl. The flavor wasn’t bad… it reminded me of Boca burgers. But the feeling that I was eating meat freaked me out. I first went back up to the counter to confirm that this was in fact the vegan burger, and the server kindly assured me that it was, stating that everyone does that. My husband and I were eating on the patio, and after a few bites I literally couldn’t do it anymore: it looked like I was eating an under cooked beef patty. The thought was revolting. I know there are some vegetarians and even vegans out there that have become such for dietary or other reasons, and not for love of animals. But I know that for those of us that have become so for the latter, this is the last thing we want. I’m fine if my veggie burgers taste like, well, veggies! That’s what I like. I’m even cool with so called meat substitutes (fake bacon, etc.). But this experience was way too close to real. The waitress even commented that many people order it thinking it’s actual meat, and still don’t realize it after eating it. (Yeah… enough said.) I can’t say that that particular sandwich will lure me back. The whole wheat bun was delicious, and the vegetables were fresh. The fries were also amazing, so if I can confirm with the company whether the cheese used in the actual “veggie” burger is rennet-free, I’ll opt for that one next time. But if you’re missing the feeling of eating a good ‘ol burger, this may be the burger for you!
Have you had a similar experience eating the Beyond Burger? Let me know about it!
