Yes, b.good may be fast food. You order. Your food arrives fast. But the end result tastes unlike typical fast-food fare. Yes, there are lots of burgers on the menu. But these are "lean, hand-packed burgers" that are ground fresh daily using 100 percent choice steaks. This extra special care translates into a really tasty hamburger.
Want something other than beef? Go for their BBQ turkey burger or one of their house-made veggie burgers. My favorite is the Venetian, a thick, white-bean patty spread with a basil pesto and topped with sun-dried tomatoes, garlicky saut?©ed spinach and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese served on a toasted whole wheat bun. Who needs ketchup when you've got all that?
If you're not in the mood for a burger, b.good also offers a variety of hot or cold sandwiches and salads, like the chipotle chicken salad. And don't forget sides like the crisp veggies that are topped with a sesame-soy dressing and come in at a mere 68 calories.
Or opt for the more traditional fries, which in b.good's case are not actually fried (they're baked), but still have that slightly crisp, salty flavor that makes them close enough to the real thing to keep you popping them till they're gone.
If you still have room for dessert you could go with the "b.good" theme and select a piece of fruit from the basket at the cash register. Or order up one of their shakes. B.good offers everything from traditional chocolate to fruity mango. All are blended with non-fat frozen yogurt and skim milk (just don't forget to budget in the calories - 467 for a 16 oz. chocolate shake or 213 for the 16 oz. mango).
The food described above can be found at either of b.good's locations. The restaurant's Boston location is at 131 Dartmouth Street. Right outside the Back Bay stop near the Prudential center, it's open every day from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., and its phone number is 617-424-5252.
b.good's Cambridge location is near Harvard Square at 24 Dunster Street. It's open daily from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m, and its phone number is 617-354-6500.
Both the Boston and Cambridge locations offer a relaxed atmosphere coupled with free wireless Internet access and good tunes, making for a perfect place to enjoy tasty food while getting some work done.
Works by local artists adorn the walls and are waiting to be plucked up by b.good customers wanting to take a piece of the experience home. Luckily, the food is cheaper than the art; a burger, fries and drink will cost you less than $10.
So stop by b.good today and sample some good-for-you (and good-for-your-wallet), tasty fast food.
Allison Stevens is a graduate student in nutrition communication and a dietetic intern at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and the Frances Stern Nutrition Center. She has a BS in culinary nutrition and an AS in culinary arts from Johnson & Wales University.
b.good on the web
Visit the b.good Web site, www.bgood.com, where you can:
- Win free food!
b.good is always hosting some sort of crazy contest (e.g., naming the company's El Camino, or stuffing your face with as many garlicky greens as possible), all for the chance at some free food.
- Receive a history lesson.
Find out everything you want to know about the history and making of the b.good restaurant and its philosophy.
-Check out the menu. And while you're at it, take a look at the not-so-scary nutrition information.
-Join the b.good family.
The site claims that by joining the family (i.e., signing up for their free e-newsletter), "you'll get to watch stupid videos, enter weird contests, eat delicious burgers for free, and maybe even get a t-shirt with an oversized picture of Uncle Faris' head on it that you'll never want to wear in public."
