Philadelphia, PA
- The Habit Burger unveiled its latest food creation and brought in a panel of foodies to taste test it, along with a plethora of many other items on their menu.
The new Guacamole Crunch Charburger ($4.99) that is being offered for a limited time is described as “jam-packed with unique layers of flavor and the perfect crunch to match” per the company’s description. That description did not let me down.
I will admit that the flame-grilled Guacamole Crunch Burger was tasty and had the searing that I love, but what made this burger so mouth-watering were all the layers of condiments that built the burger’s flavor. First, there was pico de gallo that was folded inside of a creamy guacamole. That mixture worked to mellow out the zesty ancho chile lime sauce which brought a little spicy heat to the burger layers. With the creamy and spicy flavorings befitting a more upscale restaurant, what else could I ask for? The Habit Restaurants, Inc thought of something: a nice layer of crunch was added with a perfectly crisp tostada shell, which brought additional texture to this burger and a delight to all your food-loving wishes. With a single bite, a fresh and flavorsome sandwich with various texture layers delighted my palate.
“The new Guacamole Crunch Charburger elevates our classic Charburger to new heights. The blend of south-of-the-border flavors provides our guests bold taste with crisp texture from our crunchy tostada shell addition,” said Adam Baird, executive chef at The Habit Burger Grill. “Our mild guacamole pico de gallo and smoky ancho chile lime sauce are made in house, combining flavorful citrus notes with just a hint of spice that is sure to satisfy all taste buds.”
The Guacamole Crunch Charburger was not served to us alone, we were showered with many options to taste-test; the Original Double Char ($4.55) with shredded lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, mayo, and pickles was equally delicious, especially with the cheese oozing over the sides in melted heaven. And the Sirloin Steak Sandwich ($7.55), which the hand-cut and marinated tri-tip steak was unbelievably tender. When I took a bite of that sandwich I was in foodie heaven.
And for those of you who don’t eat beef or chicken, The Habit Restaurants Inc thought to include you in their food loving delights. There is a pescatarian option, with their line-caught Sushi-grade Chargrilled Tuna ($7.55). Let your taste sensations devour the tuna that has a teriyaki glaze, and is layered with shredded lettuce, tomato, and house-made tartar sauce. If it were not for the fact that I was trying so many items on their menu I could have consumed several of those.
For vegetarians, they make a Veggie Burger ($5.55). I did not taste this one, but given how much I enjoyed all the other sandwiches I tried, I’m sure that it holds equal tasteful indulgences. Also, as an enormously huge point from a daughter of a very picky vegetarian mother: they grill the Veggie Burger on a separate cooking grill from the meat products. I told my mother about that and she was elated and can’t wait to try out The Habit Burger Grill Veggie Burger!
I really could not fathom that these sandwiches were coming from a casual restaurant chain, nor that the prices were so reasonable too.
Russell Caratenuto, a District Manager who oversees 4 of the stores in our area, told us about a family that dines at one of the other locations he manages, “They have 6 children, they come in every Friday because their bill is $85 or less, and they’re not going to get that anywhere else.” Think about that, I normally spend around 20 dollars at an equivalent restaurant per meal, and I am only a single person. At that price, to feed a family of 8 would cost about $160 for one meal. So only spending $85 to have a fresh and enjoyable meal for that large of a family is a great deal.
“We are a fast, casual dining experience so we cook it when you order it. We have all of our staff going around cleaning tables, engaging with guests, pre-busing tables and re-filling sodas. So we give you that full dining experience integrating with what we do. It’s really important to know that what makes us different is the quality of the food, the pricing of the food, and our people,” continued Russell Caratenuto.
What else is important: The Sides. We were offered all the temptatious sides to eat; the French Fries, Onion Rings, Sweet Potato Fries, and Tempura Green Beans all tasted fresh, and had a wonderful crispy crunch when biting into them. My favorite side option was the Tempura Green Beans. Don’t misunderstand me, I love French Fries, but I have to say—those delectable crunchy green beans were far more tempting to me, and I dipped them into one of The Habit Grill sauces, all of which are made in-house. It was heaven in my mouth.
With 200 stores nationally and still continuing to grow, I hope that you try out what Habit Burger Grill has to offer. Which we were also informed to look out for a new location in Florham Park, NJ which will also have a drive-thru.
“Our first drive-thru will come at the end of the year in New Jersey. Drive-thrus are a big concept for us because we still have the seating and dining and the fast-casual concept, but now we are adding convenience to it. Same thing with the drive-thru as in the restaurant; it’s all about quality first. We never pre-cook anything, we don’t use a holding tank, it’s a made-to-order concept,” Russell Caratenuto proudly informed us of.
