Vegan Burger at Red Robin – a review

It’s always nice to find a vegan option when I’m visiting a restaurant with family or friends.  Often there are no vegan items identified on the menu, and I have to ask for alterations to a standard menu item.  Usually my request involves removing a topping, such as cheese, from an item that’s listed as vegetarian.  I’m aware that there might be hidden dairy or eggs in some of these items, but I usually figure that I have come as close as I can to a vegan meal at that particular restaurant.  So it’s way better when a vegan option is actually printed on the menu!  You can imagine my excitement when I heard about a new vegan burger at Red Robin!  My husband and I made a special trip to the nearest Red Robin to check it out.  Here’s my review.

On the Menu

You have to hunt a bit for the vegan burger when you open the Red Robin menu.  It’s listed beneath the Veggie Burger, as a “Make it Vegan” option.  The veggie burger is described as follows:  “Our custom-blended, ancient-grain-and-quinoa veggie patty is piled high with Swiss cheese, lightly fried, Parmesan-sprinkled mushrooms, tomato bruschetta salsa, fresh avocado slices, sun-dried tomato spread and shredded romaine on a whole grain bun.”

If you look at the menu beneath the listing for the Veggie Burger, there is a smaller “Make it Vegan” heading.  The following description is provided:  “Our vegan veggie patty comes with fresh tomato bruschetta salsa, avocado slices and shredded romaine wrapped in a lettuce bun. Served with bottomless broccoli.

A Bit Confusing for the Server

When it came time to place the order, our server was a bit puzzled when I asked for the vegan burger.  I pointed to its listing on the menu, and then he understood.  Perhaps his unfamiliarity with the new vegan burger means that it is not yet the most popular item on the menu.  We can certainly hope that its popularity will rise.

Taste and Texture

The burger was certainly very tasty.  The texture was normal for a grain-based burger, and was not overly crumbly.   The burger was wrapped in an iceberg lettuce bun and was topped with avocado and salsa per the menu description.  It initially came to me with a side of fries, rather than the “bottomless broccoli” mentioned on the menu.  But when I commented on the switch, the server quickly brought a side dish containing the broccoli, which was served steaming hot and with no butter or other condiments.

What About the Nutritional Value?

Looking at the nutrition information on the Red Robin website, it’s clear to see that the “Make it Vegan” option is a better nutritional choice than the “Veggie Burger.”

The Veggie Burger with the standard side of fries provides a startling calorie count, at 1200 kcal.  It also includes a stunning 87 g of fat and 35 mg of cholesterol.  But it looks like you could subtract 370 kcal and 17 g of fat by asking for removal of the fries that come piled on the side — or, better yet, ask for a healthier substitute than the fries.

The vegan burger patty is listed at 140 kcal, with 5 g of fat and no cholesterol.  Adding 120 kcal for half of an avocado and 30 kcal for the steamed broccoli, that brings the vegan burger to 290 kcal.  The avocado would add about 12 g of fat, but much of it is the heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.  The vegan burger is a nutritional bargain, as far as I can tell.

I am happy with the vegan burger at Red Robin, and I will be ordering it again soon.  I’m always glad to vote with my dollars and put my money where my mouth is, as they say.  Join me and let’s encourage restaurants to expand their vegan offerings.