b.good

I was crestfallen to discover last weekend that this location was closed. Sadder still, the lot was serving as an impromptu farmers’ market — or to sell off the last of its vegetables.
The convenient parking lot & nice outdoor seating nailed it. .
Their VEGGIE BURGERS = NO. 1
Now what?

Burgers. .. I think greasy, yummy, cheesiness! B. Good is not the place for that type of burger. The burgers here are more on the healthy side. They are lower in fat content, so therefore they are dry and less tasty. Because as we all know, when it comes to flavor fat is an excellent carrier.
I do have to give them props for buying local and having a very nice staff. So, if you are looking for a healthier burger, this is the place. I wasn’t so it’s not the place for me.

Here’s the deal.
I love meat. I love burgers. There is nothing even marginally more satisfying than 6 – 9 oz. of thick, juicy, red-​in-​the-​center prime ground beef.
But if I satisfied every craving I had, my cholesterol would would rival Adrian Beltre’s batting average. So no more delicious, perfect gourmet burgers, bathed in spicy aioli, swaddled in thick house-​smoked bacon, topped with a thin, wobbly sliver of seared foie gras. No more fun. Bring on the lean. Bring on the b. good. Sometimes.
I’d had nearly every iteration of a burger there. They’re all okay, simply okay, some bordering on bad and some pretty damn tasty. In my opinion, the turkey burgers pack MUCH more flavor than the tasteless beef patties. I know b. good aims for healthy (read: sodium lite) meals, but for god’s sake, throw some pepper on there. Or garlic, or onion, or anything. The turkey has a lot more taste especially if you douse it in the thin but spicy homemade BBQ sauce. (Try the Adopted Luke fixins and you won’t regret it.) Sadly, cheese is a must for these burgers, due to the overall lack of flavor.
The veggie burger is dry beyond dry. With all those tasty fresh veggies and grains they handpack, it should be a happy little patty. Frankly, though, you could get a much better Morningstar burger for pennies on the b. good dollar. Forget it.
The fries are okay. The sweet potato fries are much better, almost mashed-​potato-​like since they’re so soft. Occasionally, they come a little burnt from their quick cook in the oven, but they’re still good. The side of veggies is useless, completely devoid of flavor, and a waste.
So, turkey burger good, most other things to be tried cautiously or avoided altogether.
But here’s the frightening thing.
A plain old Cousin Oliver burger packs 423 calories; an Adopted Luke is a sad, sad 670 kcals. Add to that some regular fries (305) or sweet potato fries (around 300) and you’re looking at a relatively high-​calorie meal masquerading as «healthy.» To be honest, McDonald’s and Wendy’s, if ordered correctly, are not far off (or contain even less fat/​calories if you pay attention.) So b. good’s ingredients are fresh and their wares handmade, but food here is NOT better for you, and generally, tasteless and expensive. (Again, doesn’t apply to the Adopted Luke. That shit’s insane.)
In short, you may be better of just grilling some lean burgers at home and flavoring them the way you like, and then saving up your money and calories for something truly awesome elsewhere, rather than spending cashmonies on mediocrity dressed up as healthful fast food. You know what they say about lipstick and a cow, don’t you?

HATCHBACK is where it’s at.
The simple fresh menu is easy to order from, the staff is always friendly, they call you by name, and their promotions are awesome.
The guys that run b. good make it a point to connect with their customers. They frequently offer free promotions by filling out surveys, posting food-​shaped vouchers around Boston, and have launched Harvey the traveling yummy shake-​producing truck.
If you are a salad junkie: Order the hatchback and add avocado slices (which are generally added to burgers) for the extra .49. I ordered it once and have not stopped.
Ultimately, b. good is quick and healthy. I never fail to leave here without a smile on my face and a full belly.

Veggies burgers don’t have to suck.
And while it seemed like b. good had made their own, I will also say it was perfectly dry. Not a good dry like wine, but bad dry like overcooked chicken. It was drier on the edges than on the outside, but let’s just say I had to add lots of ketchup and drink lots of soda to wash it all down.
And it’s sad, but they’re complemented by really delicious fries with a lot of crispy and a lot of tenderness on the inside.
But b. good, I’d rather go back to eating beef than eat another veggie burger from your establishment.

I stopped in here after a shopping excursion in TJ Maxx, dying of heat-​induced exhaustion and looking like a disgusting sweatbomb. I doubted I’d be able to eat anything and I wasn’t too hungry, but I was craving an ice-​cold smoothie. I asked the girl at the counter if she knew whether the smoothies had gluten and she kind of blinked at me a couple times. Luckily the manager overheard and assured me that they were. He also offered to make me a GF burger by using lettuce leaves instead of a bun and assured me that the fries were safe as well. What? I could feast here?! With all the heat, the idea of food was horrible to me, so I passed. BUT, you better believe I’ll be back for a burger and fries. Perhaps I’ll bust out the free fries card that I got at a Unilocal event!
The strawberry smoothie was divine. A wee bit too sweet, but I bet they could make it less so upon request. The customer service was outstanding and I really appreciated their knowledge. I’ll be back!

Here’s a tip: join their mailing list and you get all kinds of awesome freebee coupons (note: they used to be totally free which rocked, now it’s more «buy one get one free», which is still good if you’re headed over with a friend). This local mini-​chain knows how to take care of their «family».
I’m a big fan of turkey burgers and have found their version to be pretty tasty for the price (and really, where else can you get «fast food» turkey burgers?). I was excited when they changed their menu so that you could choose what kind of toppings went on whatever kind of burger you ordered (non-​beef burgers only used to come with one or two set of options), so you can mix it up and customize how you want.
Sweet potato fries are yummy, and they have this side order of veggies (carrots, brocolli, red peppers) stir-​fried in some kind of sesame soy sauce that is such a great healthy and delicious snack, I stop by just for that as a pick-​me-​up sometimes (Back Bay location too– actually makes me not mind having to take the commuter rail). Fruit shakes are decent as well.
It’s really nice to have a non-​gross fast food option available; you don’t feel like you’ve just eaten a ton of grease and fat after eating here, it’s perfect for a quick cheap meal on the go. I’m really glad b. good exists.

This was just an A-​OK experience for me. My turkey burger wasn’t how I expected. It tasted okay but, I don’t know, just not quite how turkey burgers elsewhere have tasted before. It threw me off. I like the healthier options, I like the avocado (mashed like guacamole) on the burgers, I liked that the fries were grilled-​like and not soaked and deep fried in grease. I like b. good in theory, I just don’t know if I like it in practice yet. I want to try this place again, but next time get a beef burger instead of a turkey burger.
I also joined the family, so that next time I go I can try the manager’s special (fries, burger, and drink for $ 5).
**Added bonus… PARKING LOT**

Healthy-​ish fast food! Vegetarian/​vegan options! Baked sweet potato fries!
These reasons were why I decided to try this place out. And it is good. A bit pricey, but the place is quite clean and pleasant. The service was very friendly, but a bit slow for «fast food»…but that means it’s freshly cooked, right?
There are a lot of ways to customize your burger, and the veggie patty was not only egg-​and-​dairy free, but also pretty tasty. The bread is fresh. The sweet potato «bakes» were tasty, but I admit that the unhealthy amount of fat in fries is what really does it for me. Too soft, but also a lot of burnt ends-​how did that happen?
Great concept, though I doubt I’ll be back. If I want to spend $ 10 on a meal, I can get something more sophisticated than a burger elsewhere.

The burgers are absolutely delicious. I ordered the chicken burger with the cilantro/​avocado (don’t remember what the exact name is). It’s a guilty pleasure without feeling to guilty. The chicken is so incredibly juicy, perfectly cooked.
A little disappointed with their chips/​fries, which is one of my many weaknesses but then again I guess that is what happens when you choose to go healthy so I guess for healthy, it’s satisfactory.
The tellers are all rather charismatic and provide good service.

Still like this place. Amazing that there’s always a free parking spot available. Great spot for a long lunch hour on their patio when the weather’s nice.
Again, if you’re eating healthy, this is a 5 star deal.
If you’re not, eh, it’s pretty average.

Good burgers, great options, good décor, and air-​conditioning makes this the perfect summer hangout.
I stopped here for dinner and had a difficult time choosing between the many menu options, since they all sounded great. From fresh salads to a side of vegetable stir-​fry to interesting sandwich combos with a base of burger, turkey burger, veggie burger, or chicken breast, it will definitely take more than a few visits to exhaust this menu.
I had the burger with guacamole and salsa on it, which was good until I hit the cilantro, when it became great. My dad had the burger with garlicky-​greens, which is one of the best ideas I have ever heard of and which I am going to put on all my burgers from now on. The sweet potato fries were also delicious, and a great way to eat more veggies.
Overall, a nice place to relax and grab a quick, though not cheap ($ 7 for a burger), bite. I’ll definitely be going back.

I feel bad every time I visit their near empty location on a late week night with that staff staring (enviously?) at a near-​packed Anna’s Taqueria across the street. I’m not sure why b. good hasn’t picked up momentum in its current location. My best guess is its hours. If you’re a burger and shakes spot half way between Coolidge Corner and Allston, you’re targeting a young, late-​night demographic and should be keeping your doors open until at least midnight. I’d personally give them twice as much business if they kept better hours.
Anyway, if you’re not familiar with b. good, it’s pretty consistent across its various locations. Reliably good burgers, great shakes, and fantastic fries. My usual order, which rarely varies — veggie burger prepared west-​side, chocolate milkshake with non-​fat frozen yogurt, and fries (real or sweet potato). If you live in the area and haven’t tried them, give them a shot. I’d hate to see them close after only a year or two.

This place is one of those places that looks pretty good, but is only so on the surface. It’s like those bottles of Patrone. Sure, they’re pretty, and everybody goes oooh and ahhh when it gets uncorked at the bar. But by the end of the night, you’re out $ 200 and wind up in Newton passed out in a shopping cart with a Latvian midget. We’ve all been there. (right?)
B.Good brands itself as a 100% homemade burger joint. Real beef, real fries, real shakes. And it’s a chain, so they’ve got them other places too. Sounds good so far. Only thing is, the food is awful. Just because it’s real doesn’t mean it can’t taste awful. The burger patties are still thin, you can’t get anything less than a well-​done/​burnt burger. The fries are greasy and don’t have any crunch to them.
Fine, maybe it’s just me, and there are people out there who are okay with overcooked meat and limp fries. But the place is overpriced for a chain, too. A coke, burger, and fries will run you $ 10 or more easily. Most bars have infinitely better burgers for the same price. In fact, Sunset Grille is just up the street and serving one of Allston’s best burgers for $ 5.95 a pop, with fries.

I love their veggie burgers because they are homemade (and now vegan according to a recent newsletter of theirs. They have perfected their recipe without the use of egg). Other burger places heat up frozen hockey pucks as their veggie burgers. Their shakes are also yummy, and I love how crunchy and delicious their fries are. Everything is fresh, and their staff is so friendly.

I was so excited to try B. Good and was sorely disappointed. It just wasn’t anything amazing and did not live up to the hype.
I do love that they have healthier options — veggies instead of fries, low-​fat cheese, etc. — but I’ve had much better burgers from my own kitchen!
The «décor» is pretty cool — I actually knew a guy who has pictures on the walls of this converted gas station. And the location is great. Too bad the food isn’t!

Me and my girlfriend are here all the time. She works near Harvard Sq. and when I meet her after work we’re usually both hungry, we discuss our options at Harvard Sq. (I always sarcastically offer IHOP).
We discuss Oggi (but still haven’t been), make fun of ABP, pine for Spice or Le’s (always packed), Speak skeptically about Flat Patties and Felipes and then end up at B. Good
Talk about a run-​on sentence. Anyway, the food is tasty, it seems healthy (er) than fast food and is reasonably priced. The employees seem incredibly relaxed (I don’t mind that). So yeah, B. Good. It exists.
The regular fries are better than the sweet potato ones, btw.

Thank you — A Haiku
I ordered a small
But received a large instead
I did not pay more
What I like — A Poem
I was dying for a drink and the chocolate shake went down great
I love B Good for their food make no mistake.
How I wish there was one closer to my place of employ,
Then I would just yell out in joy.
I like that they are healthy,
And they keep you slightly wealthy.
I suppose I will have to come here more than just yearly.
The End: bows:

I tend to eat healthy — or at the very least, try to — and b. good does not disappoint by sacrificing good taste for less fat or calories. It’s delicious food prepared in a more healthy way. Think of the tastiest burger you can get from a take-​out restaurant, and then take away the grease and unnecessary extras. If you are curious, everything you order has a breakdown of calories, fat, and general nutrition facts right up on a big board, so you know exactly what you are eating. And the place has personality. It shows that the owners and staff truly care about their product and stand behind it, which you don’t see so much these days, especially with healthy places.
If you’re not accustomed to healthier choices, this is also a good place for you to start. I know that some people have an automatic aversion to substitutes such as turkey burgers or veggie burgers… because you think that there’s no way the taste can compare. I know differently because I’ve successfully made the switch, but if you’re on the fence or are just a non-​believer, b. good is a fantastic place to give it a shot. The worst that can happen is that you find you still don’t like it, and you lost a few bucks. But I have a feeling you’ll love it!

Is b-​good too good, to b-​true?
A healthy hamburger? Non-​fattening french fries? Stop playing. Normally, I’m suspicious of grand accusations that appear to challenge common knowledge. I follow a classic adage: «From that spring whence comfort seemed to come, discomfort swells.»
But, b-​good is all good. Their fries are real, not pressed or processed and they are oven-​crisped, not fried. They also offer a broccoli, carrot, and a red pepper stir-​fry medley in lieu of fries.
I’ve had the el guapo burger, made with lean, all-​natural bacon, jalapeño-​ranch sauce, lettuce, tomato, and red onion on a whole-​wheat bun. I’ve had the b. good burger with caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, garlic greens, and steak sauce on a whole-​wheat bun. And, I’ve had the southwestern veggie burger made with black beans, topped with avocado, cilantro, tomato, and chipotle salsa on a whole-​wheat bun.
B-​good is a decent spot for a quick bite.