Burger Bonanza

TerraBurger

TerraBurger was started by an Austin fast-food overseer teamed with a local investor, who both believed that a fast-food burger joint could also be all-natural and organic, modern, sustainable, and green. Their No. 1 rule is that everything in the store has to be all-natural, and their core ingredients (beef, produce, veggie burgers, cheese, milk, ice cream, and fruit) are all U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic. Their commitment to environmental principles is extensive and admirable. Service is fast and friendly; your order is ready in mere minutes. TerraBurger offers chicken, turkey, and veggie burger options also, as well as sliders.

I ordered a double ($8.90), for a 2/3-pound patty total. Add cheddar (50 cents) and bacon (90 cents), and you’re looking at a $10.30 hamburger. The meat has good flavor but needs more fat content to avoid dryness and crumbling. The bun is light and airy but suffers from a lack of containment tensile strength. The bacon is thick and smoky; well worth the extra cost. All interior components are high quality. Fries ($1.55, also available as sweet potato) have good flavor but suffer from slight limpness. The strawberry Baby Shake ($1.95) was fair, but it seems to lack the richness a shake should provide. A glass (25 cents) for ice and water nudges the bill ever higher. For a lesser price I might have been a little more gid­dy about my dining experience at TerraBur­ger, but for $15.21 (with tax), not so much. – M.V.

This article appears in May 22 • 2009.