***If arriving by subway at the Barclay Center station, look for the Apple Store on Flatbush Avenue/Ashland Place. When you arrive at Whole Foods 365, our meetup group will be seated in the food court near the Ashland Place entrance. Look for the “VEG MEETUP” sign on the table.***

No need to catch a plane to the West Coast, Next Level Burger has finally arrived, opening it first East Coast location in Brooklyn.

According to their website, “Next Level Burger was born when its founders Matt and Cierra de Gruyter realized that what they wanted for their family—healthy, sustainable, delicious food—could be for everyone. They wanted to turn their most deeply held beliefs into action and burger awesomeness prepared from ingredients that are responsibly sourced, organic and GMO-free. So, like any intrepid family with a big dream, they went for it! They risked everything they had for everything they wanted for the world”. Their commitment to sustainability is also reflected in the use of compostable packaging and the restaurant furniture which consists of reclaimed wood table tops.

Next Level Burger first opened in Bend, Oregon in 2014, and it's been growing ever since. The current NLB portfolio includes two additional Oregon locations in Portland and Lake Oswego, as well as a Seattle location and its first California location that opened in Concord this past December. On January 31st, NLB had their Brooklyn grand opening. They are located within a Whole Foods 365 in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood, sharing the building with an Apple store.

NLB prides itself “on an all-inclusive, welcoming atmosphere that offers guests from all walks of life healthy alternatives to the norm, with something for everyone” as mentioned in their press release. Menu highlights include over a dozen burger combos like the house-made Signature Burger made with mushroom and quinoa patty topped with avocado slices, vegan cheese, and roasted garlic-thyme mayo to the Spicy Bean Burger, a black bean and veggie patty topped with horseradish sauce and organic jalapenos. Options also include the Bleu BBG and the Sausage Bacon – all made from sustainably sources, non-GMO, with all organic produce. And, of course, you can get fried or baked fries with that - even chili cheese fries. Their shakes are made with a choice of soy or coconut soft serve and come in classic options such as vanilla, chocolate, banana and peanut butter as well as NLB creations such as cookies n’ cream and mint chocolate. Two Brooklyn-themes exclusive options are joining the menu including a “Brooklyn Burger” topped with smoky tempeh bacon, caramelized onions, vegan smoked gouda and molasses barbecue sauce, and a “Fort Greene Shake” with banana, dark chocolate and sweet green kale. Check out their menu: http://www.nextlevelburger.com/menu

According Jill Ettinger at Livekindly.com, “In some ways, the burger is an apt metaphor for what Next Level Burger is attempting: a very well-crafted, satisfying, and compact delivery system for good things. ‘The food chain should be revolutionized,’ says de Gruyter.”

~Stefan

***If arriving by subway at the Barclay Center station, look for the Apple Store on Flatbush Avenue/Ashland Place. When you arrive at Whole Foods 365, our meetup group will be seated in the food court near the Ashland Place entrance. Look for the “VEG MEETUP” sign on the table.***

Subway Directions:

• B, D, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4, 5 line to Atlantic Avenue Barclay Center Station

LIRR Directions

• LIRR to Atlantic Terminal

Photos courtesy of Next Level Burger