New burger joint eco-friendly, still doesn’t deliver

For many years, restaurants such as In-N-Out and Fatburger have labored to create the perfect burger joint, but the newly opened Larkburger doesn’t add much to the competition.

Larkburger is a Colorado-grown chain, originating in Edwards, Colo.; on March 31, Larkburger opened its newest location in Colorado Springs.

Advertising eco-friendly service and “all-natural gourmet burgers,” the dine-in fast-food chain is appealing to the environmental- and health-conscious and burger lovers, alike.

Walking into Larkburger is an experience in itself, for it becomes immediately apparent that this is what happens when a burger joint tries too hard to be hip.

The dining area resembles a ‘70s rendition of the future, making the cashier look out of place for not wearing a silver jumpsuit.

In all seriousness, the place is nice, and with all of the tables and chairs being hospital white, it is also very well lit.

The menu offers five varieties of burgers, including veggie, turkey and tuna. The star burger, the Larkburger, is just a regular burger made with Black Angus beef, but there is also the truffle Larkburger, which is what I ordered.

The first disappointing thing you will discover is that for $7 you get only the burger.

Fries, drinks and cheese – yes, the burgers don’t come with cheese – do not come with the burger purchase; there is no ‘meal deal.’

However, the burgers are delicious, and I was shocked to see that after ordering my burger rare, I was actually served a burger that was cooked rare.

When Larkburger boasts ‘gourmet burgers,’ it is serious. The burgers are cooked perfectly and served with thick-cut tomato slices and whole leaves of lettuce. The French fries are thin cut, but other than that, nothing out of the ordinary.

Larkburger’s major appeal – other than its burgers – is its well-advertised commitment to sustainable management.

The restaurant boasts interior wood paneling that comes from reclaimed timber, utensils made from potato or corn starch, reuse of canola oil as gasoline and a 100 percent dedication to wind energy.

What is ultimately keeping Larkburger from becoming the next Chipotle of burger joints is that it offers nothing new to the scene.

Restaurants like Chipotle get away with charging $7 for a burrito because it is serving what could be two meals. Even if burgers were good left over, the Larkburger is no more than one meal.

All in all, Larkburger is offering a gourmet-quality burger at a quality restaurant price; however, it does not offer the amenities that allow for such a price.

It is hard to justify spending $10 on a burger and fries, and other than their green business practices, it is simply not worth it.

One would be better off spending half of the money on restaurants like Five Guys or Drifter’s and getting the same, if not better-tasting food.