Goodburger: The Review

Burgers are making a comeback. Now with finer cuts of meat, options in turkey, vegan, and gourmet; the American classic sandwich is moving back into the mainstream after a brief exile by those unhappy (and hungry) health nuts. For the burger-hungry Philadelphian, we have a tasty and trendy new grill right in the heart of Center City: goodburger.

The immaculate and spotless new goodburger (small 'g') is smack in the middle of Chestnut Street, between 17th and 18th, making it ideal as a lunchtime destination for thousands of locals. The food is prepared and cooked to order, so while you will be in-and-out quicker than your last visit blind date, it isn't as speedy as Mickey Dee's. But then again, Ronald's thin slices of kangaroo meat were never this good. So if you're a clock-watcher worried about that lunch rush, consider pre-ordering your food on goodburger's convenient website.

Goodburger's beefcakes give their fast-food cousins a pounding.. Regardless of your choice (turkey, beef, or chicken) the patties are fresh, sizzling, and gi-normous. The mega-popular cheese burger ($6.00) is a mouthful of grade A beef topped with a fantastic blend of white and yellow cheddar cheese. goodburger's guilt free-winner is the Turkey Burger ($6.75) a homemade patty of all-natural low fat Turkey with tri-color bell peppers, red onion, and parsley all diced in for big flavor. For those of you who are strict herbivores, the veggie burger ($6.75) is almost as good as the beef selections. (Okay, it's not - but it's sure as hell the best veggie burger I've tasted) You can opt to have yours with whatever fixings and toppings your tummy desires, from bacon to fried onions to pickles and fresh tomato slices. Blasphemers looking to insult the burger god an also choose from a menu of sandwiches that features options like grilled cheese, Portobello mushroom, and BLT.

A goodburger meal isn't a complete indulgence without accompanying your burger (or sandwich) with one of their sides. The regular fries ($1.95) are crisp and served piping hot, and are nearly as delicious as the beer battered jumbo onion rings ($2.95). You'll have a tough time deciding between the two. For the truly famished, we advise you throw caution to the wind, and dive into a pile of the Cheese & Chili Fries ($6.50). Crispy Idaho Fries topped with melted white and yellow cheddar then smothered in goodburger's Texas Chili. It might sound a tad much, but when you consider that all the fries are cooked in a Zero Trans Fat Vegetable Oil - you'll feel much, much better. Seconds please!

No plate (FYI: goodburger serves on china plates with real silverware for in-house dining, and biodegradable packaging for take-out.) of burgers and fries would be complete without a milkshake. What? You're a soda drinker? Well, goodburger has all your fav sodas as well as the cherry-lime flavored Lime-Rickey, old-fashioned Root beer, and the soda-fountain throwback Egg Creme. But who cares about any of that - lets talk about the milkshakes. Frosty, thick, tasty milkshakes...Made with hand scooped ice cream and milk, they are fan-tab-u-won-der-licious. You can choose from Chocolate, Strawberry, and the absolutely incredible Black Cow (vanilla with a swirl of chocolate syrup), Cookies & Cream (add $1.00), Strawberry Banana (add $1.00) and the decadent Fudge Brownie. If sweets and sodas aren't what you crave during lunch hour, goodburger also serves beer! Hallelujah!

It's nearly Memorial Day, and obviously all of us beach-bound individuals are barely eating solids in preparation for swimsuit season. While I fully endorse salads, pitas, and wraps, occasionally you need to cut your teeth on something a bit tastier. When you get that hungry hankering that only a good old plate of Americana will satisfy, don't opt for micro waved fast food or greasy slop from the corner roach-coach. Give your belly a goodburger and do a few extra minutes on the treadmill. Trust us, it's for you own good(burger).

Goodburger, 1725 Chestnut St, (215) 569-4777 or visit www.goodburgerpa.com.