This experience crossed a line.
My girlfriend and I were genuinely excited to try Holy Burger because they advertise a full plant based menu and even offer gluten free buns. That combination is hard to find, so we were genuinely excited.
Before ordering, I specifically asked if a gluten free bun could be used with a plant based sandwich. I was told yes. During ordering, I also clearly stated multiple times that we are vegan and everything needed to be plant based. Every vegan knows when you are in a place that serves both, you confirm multiple times.
Despite that, I was served real meat. Both my chicken sandwich and my burger were not plant based.
After taking a bite (I haven't eaten meat in 16 years), I noticed something was off and asked for clarification. I was initially told it was both gluten free and plant based. When I pointed out that my chicken patty and my girlfriend's chicken patty looked completely different, the answer changed. Only then did the employee realize the mistake and say it was gluten free, not plant based, as if those are interchangeable. They are not.
If I had accepted the initial answer, I would have continued eating meat.
Like halal, this is ethical. It is not a preference. If you are going to market to vegans and people with dietary restrictions, you need to understand the difference and get it right.
What made it worse was the response. There was no real apology, just a casual "that's what you ordered," which wasn't true. I had clearly communicated my order multiple times.
I declined the remake because at that point I didn't trust the food. I was told a refund was issued, but I have not seen that reflected yet.
We spent about $60 for two people, which makes this so much more upsetting.
This is not just a simple mistake. For vegans, this is ethical. Being served meat after clearly ordering plant based is not a minor error, it is a complete breakdown in trust.
It left me physically sick, and honestly still does thinking about it.
When you serve both meat and plant based options, there should be clear safeguards and employee training in place to make sure this never happens. That did not happen here.
If you are vegan, I would strongly caution against eating here. read more