Eating Out Paleo: Elevation Burger Rises to the Occasion
Laura PappasEating out Paleo can sometimes be difficult – but it doesn’t have to be. For me what I have the hardest time satisfying in the Paleo hierarchy is food quality. At home I pretty much only eat grass fed beef, but when I go out I know that getting grass fed beef is much harder to find. So I was pleasantly surprised when we found Elevation Burger. I’ve learned there are a few in the Philadelphia area, the one I visited was in Collegeville in the giant shopping center along with Wegmans, Movie Tavern, and EMS.
Simple Menu for Simple Ordering
The menu is simple – you can see it on the signs. Now don’t get me wrong here, Shakes and Malts are not Paleo, and that’s not why I like Elevation Burger. What I do like is that you can get a grass fed burger wrapped in lettuce – and ANY number of patties that you want between 1 and 15 if you dare – without getting weird looks from the staff. You can select any toppings that you want – they had some good options like fried onions and sautéed mushrooms which is what I ordered on top of my single lettuce wrapped patty. Weak I know, only one beef patty. While eating out and getting “fast food” is not the ideal, I think getting something from here is a pretty good option.
This isn't my actual order - I was so excited that I ate without taking a picture of my food
Some improvements – sweet potato fries! That was a huge bonus. While we’re on the topic of fries, as advertised on the wall posters below Elevation Burger, they are made in olive oil — epic failure in my opinion. Olive oil is not meant for frying, it has a fairly low smoke point and is not meant to be heated as hot as it is in a fryer. When that happens the fatty acids in the olive oil start to break down and create free radicals and particles that are not good for you. So if you are a fry eater, you probably want to skip them at elevation burger! Personally I didn’t get fries…I realize my picture has fries but that’s because I was so excited to eat that I forgot to take a picture of my perfectly wrapped lettuce burger! I found this picture on the web and decided to use it here to show you guys what the lettuce wrapped burger looks like.
Often when I asked for my burger wrapped in lettuce at a place that don’t normally do that, I get a salad container with shredded lettuce on the bottom and a burger on top, or a burger with 2 pieces of lettuce on it. I ordered a burger with no bun at a Wendy’s once – road trip – and they served it to me on a plate! So its refreshing to have a place that offers a lettuce wrapped burger and executes it well. Maybe for those that want some vitamins in their wrapping could opt for collard greens instead.
Signs on the wall - Fries are cooked in Olive Oil!
The other things that I think would be great to have on the menu are some additional fun toppings for your burger, like guacamole or avocado slices for example. It would be fun to have toppings for themed burgers - like guacamole, sautéed peppers and onions to make a Mexican burger. Another great option would be to have a burger on a salad – a yummy high quality burger on top of a really great bed of greens with some tomato and avocado is a super delicious meal. This would be a great addition to the menu at Elevation Burger.
Overall I think that Elevation Burger is many steps ahead of other fast food places like McDonalds, Wendy’s, and Burger King. It has many healthier options for a good and relatively quick burger. Having the option to get a high quality grassed burger in a lettuce wrap is a great option for days when you find yourself strapped for time, running errands, or just looking for a quick and easy option on the go. Next time I go, I may bring my own avocado…something I’ve done before and I think I may man up and order a double burger too!
What are your thoughts on Elevation burger, have you been there yet? I hear there is one in Wynnwood, PA too for those of you local to the Philly outskirts. If you want some more tips on how to eat out Paleo, check out my new FREE ebook – 10 tips for Eating Out Paleo.
This article originally appeared at http://www.laurapappashealth.com/2011/11/eating-out-paleo-elevation-burger/
About the Author- Laura Pappas is a health coach whose passion is achieving optimal health and fitness. Her health coaching approach helps busy people balance their lives, training, and food choices in a way that is easy and sustainable. She believes in the power of eating real, whole foods, avoiding processed sugar, and applying the principles of the Paleo Diet to modern living.
Reader Comments (3)
Good to know some fast food places are catching up. One other I can rely on to be pretty paleo friendly is chipotle Mexican grill. All the meat there seems humanely, naturally raised and you can pick the toppings you want served in a salad bowl.
The place sounds good and seems like a quality alternative to the other fast food offerings. My only question is the price. I often find if it's better for you then it's more expensive. Is this true for Elevation Burgers as well?
Thanks for the post!
Awesome find. I agree with the second poster there is a price premium for good quality meat. Chiptotle is probably the only choice for a large/national chain with healthy (grass-fed) meats. If all else, perhaps a to-go selection at Whole Foods from the meat counter?
Any suggestions for the Virginia -Washington DC suburbs?