Having walked past the tantalizing scents of Grill'd in Chatswood, Sydney, many times, I was…read moreexcited to finally nosh at the joint touting healthy burgers.
Grill'd serves a variety of burgers and sliders, made with chicken, beef, lamb and veggies, as well as offers steak sandwiches and salads. There are three -- count 'em, three -- vegetarian burger options! I definitely want to go back to try them all, but this time, i opted for the Field of Dreams ($11.50 AUD), a portobello mushroom burger that was one of the lowest-calorie options on the menu at about 470 calories for a huge sandwich. It was incredibly juicy and came with basil pesto, roasted peppers, cheddar cheese, lettuce and herbed mayo -- and an Australian flag, for good measure. Next time, I will try the Friends of Falafel burger ($11.50) or the other veggie burger option, the Garden Goodness ($11.50), a veggie patty made with beetroot.
Be sure to pair your burger with some "chips" (French fries), too -- I loved the thick-cut fries here because the seasoning was ample. The regular version ($4.80) is super-huge, and I wasn't able to finish mine. Next time, I would get the snack version ($3.80).
I ordered the tomato relish thinking it would be ketchup-y (or tomato sauce-y, as Australians would say), but it was a sweet dipping sauce that didn't satisfy my palate -- though, with other ingredients, like on my mushroom burger, it was fine. Instead, I'd recommend the very spicy hot chilli mayo dipping sauce, which had a huge kick and is might tasty.
Grill'd is super-casual and popping on weekend nights, with street seating that gives plenty of opportunities for people-watching. The order-at-the-counter spot is stocked with local bottled beers and beers on draft. I loved the fun attitude, from the Australian burger flags, to the sassy copy on the knife holders, which read, "Can't handle the double handed approach? In case of emergency, cut in half." It's a fun, casual spot good for groups, quick bites or lingering.
