"Healthy" and "burgers" are two words you don't usually see mentioned together in the same sentence, but that's exactly the sort of fare served up at
Grill'd. And don't let the healthy part of the equation put you off; these burgers taste just as good as any of the grease-laden offerings you'll find at other burger places across Australia.
The Garden Goodness burger will keep your vego mates happy.
This burger joint has
locations spread right across the country. I've only ever dined at the one in Crows Nest, but the
menu appears to be basically the same right across the spectrum. And before you turn your nose up at the fact that this is essentially a burger chain, keep in mind that it's a burger chain with a refreshing twist.
As you'd expect, there's an extensive range of burgers to choose from, which come on your choice of a panini or a wholemeal blend bun. For meatlovers, options range from your standard beef burger through to more exotic offerings such as the Kung Fu Fighter, which features shredded carrot, coriander and satay sauce for a bit of zing. Summer Sunset sees the addition of avocado and pineapple to your normal hamburger ingredients, while the Almighty delivers exactly what the name promises.
There are six chicken burger options to choose from and it's hard to go past the classic flavours of the Simon Says. The Tuscan Delight, featuring grilled chicken breast, roasted peppers, basil pesto, cheese, salad and herbed mayo, is also worth sampling.
Grill'd prides itself on serving up healthy burgers.
And just because you're going to a burger place doesn't mean you have to leave your vego mates at home, as the menu boasts three vegetarian options. The pick of this bunch is the aptly named Garden Goodness, with everything a good vego burger needs and a lip-lickingly fresh relish to bring it all together.
There are also a couple of lamb burgers and steak sandwich offerings to choose from, or you could order a salad - though why you'd want a salad at a burger joint, I have no idea.
Of course, you can't have a burger without chips on the side, and Grill'd's beautiful chips have quite a reputation. Deliciously thick-cut and covered in a special herb mix, they're the perfect accompaniment to a big burger.
In terms of service, I've never had any complaints with the staff at the Crows Nest store. The line can get a little long during lunch-time peak, but service is always friendly, helpful and pretty quick.
With everything Grill'd serves up, the focus is always on fresh, quality ingredients and a low fat content. Before I ate there I was sceptical about whether a healthy burger could deliver big taste, but I was more than happy to be proven wrong.
If there's a better feeling in the world than being able to wolf down a big, juicy burger without the usual side-serving of guilt, you'd be hard-pressed finding it.
