Filed under: American, Coupon!!, Fast Food, Food cart, Southwest Portland | Tags: burgers, downtown, paleo, Portland, sweet potato fries
Violetta is no longer in business 
As of 9/21/12 they have been closed for a couple weeks/months (?) now. They are now called ELEPHANT’S PARK. Hopefully we will review them soon, I hear they have good sweet potato tots….
877 SW Taylor @ SW Park (it’s literally in the park!)
503 233 3663
Hey ohhhhh! Scoutmob iphone App! Check it! 50% off your order! Use it instantly!
What we ordered: Violetta Burger – 1/2 lb burger – lettuce, tomato, red onion, super dill and burger sauce, Bacon blue cheese burger – 1/2 lb burger, Sweet Potato Fries – Large
How we ordered it: No Bun! Add extra greens please. You can easily ask for no cheese. They take substitutions really well!
What we received:
Violetta Burger and Bacon and Blue Cheese Burger
Large Sweet Potato Fries
Cost: Violetta Burger (1/2 lb) – $8, Bacon blue cheese burger (1/2 lb) – $8.50, Sweet Potato fries (large) – $4.50. With the Scoutmob app the entire meal only cost us $10.50!! Woohooo!!!!!
Quality: Their burgers are all “pasture-raised”. That probably means the cows are happy roaming around on a pasture, but as they are nearing slaughter they beef them up with some type of grain feed. Unfortunately, pasture raised does not necessarily equate to grass-fed. They taste really good though and will cook it how you want it. Medium well is how we roll!
Quantity: It was a huge 1/2 lb burger. I was satisfied.
MEAT-O-METER says!
This place is so cool! You can sit outside or inside and enjoy the park by people watching and/or watching a ginormous life-size chess game while you eat. Just hope for good weather and it’s a perfect place for a nice relaxing meal.
Violetta changed management about 2 months ago, so their online menu is not up to date yet. The menu is slightly more simplified, but they still have all the basic good stuff. They are very open to the gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian community and are totally open about making substitutions. It’s great for semi-fast food when you don’t have a lot of time shopping or doing whatever downtown. This place is for sure one of our faves especially with the iphone app! Seriously dope, yo!
For the peeps who are 100% Paleo eaters 80% of the time 
, they have awesome milkshakes, but their old menu item of “bag ‘o beignets” are no longer served. Boooo!! So sad . Nevertheless, stop by if you are downtown!
MEATEATS UPDATE!!!
Burgerville now has a “Protein Platter”, though unbeknownst to some of the employees, they do make them and serve them!
Here is the MEAT-O-METER’s financial analysis and overall opinion of the matter:
We went to the Burgerville on NE Grand by the Lloyd Center and ordered the platter. The checkout person knew what were asking for but warned us it is so rarely ordered that they have to remind the cooks how to make it. Great.
$5.69 and you get the following. 2 x 1/4 lb beef patties and a weak side salad. There is also a chicken and turkey option.
We realized the receipt said bacon comes on the platter so we asked for it. We got it for free but was warned it actually might not come with the platter. So, I can’t guarantee it is included in the $5.69.
Ok, the receipt for the platter was revealing. Apparently, protein is not an important enough macronutrient to make the list. I was bummed.
(In case you can’t read it, the upper right hand corner has Calories, Fiber, Fat, Carbs for their categories)
We ordered a lone beef patty to compare.
After all that, here is what we know.
1) One beef patty is about 17-18 grams of protein – $1.75
2) Protein platter is 2 beef patties, 35 grams of protein -$5.69.
3) You can just order two beef patties for $3.50 and get the same amount of protein. By ordering the platter, you are paying $2.19 or 62% more for a weak, iceberg lettuce side salad. Assuming no bacon here.
Also, the Classic Burgerville burger that comes with 1 patty, bun, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and sauce is $3.39. You are paying $1.64 or 94% more for the bun, piece of lettuce, wedge of tomatoe, and slice of cheese. Oh, and if you get the combo meal with the fries and soft drink, it is way more.
4) I hear a lot from friends who have never tried Paleo say that it is expensive. Well, for the extra $1.64 or $2.19 you are spending on the Classic or the Platter, you could be doing a whole lot more for yourself. If we consider the fries and soft drink, get ready for a Paleo bonanza. The snack plate I made for myself below is 3 oz of Almond butter from Trader Joes ($0.94), 4 oz carrot ( $0.25), and 5 oz celery ($0.72) from New Seasons. $1.91 total, give or take.
Update: I couldn’t finish the whole snack plate. There was over 1/2 lb of veggies there and it turns out it is very filling.
In summary, I would stick with the $1.75 beef patties from Burgerville and just get me a bag of mixed veggies to munch on. For rating, see pic below.
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Ahhhh, Burgerville. In my non-Paleo days, the seasonal milkshake would be a reward to myself. Like ice cream it is an achilles of mine and I will always have fond memories of it. I do miss it. Well, they do serve meat, so maybe there’s a way to not totally elminate Burgerville from my life. So we tried it, we ordered Paleo at Burgerville. Not possible you say? You might just be right.
What we ordered: 2 Tillamook Cheeseburgers. Yeah, we could have done without the cheese, but we really wanted to give Burgerville a chance.
How we ordered it: No bun.
What we got:
Using our Chinook book coupon for 1 free cheeseburger when a 2nd one of equal or greater value is purchased, the damage didn’t seem too bad.
Cost: $3.69 for 1 burger, with the coupon we got 2!
Quality: The meat patty actually tasted like beef! They use 100% Anitibiotic and Hormone Free Beef from Country Natural Beef and their food sources are local!
Quantity: 1 burger at $3.69 is definitely not enough for a meal.
MEAT-O-METER?
The meat actually tasted like beef! Having local sources for food is a plus. The amount of meat for the price was horrible. They did serve the meat in containers that are compostable, which was nice on their part. But overall, not really worth the visit for just one meat patty. Burgerville may just have to remain a fond memory….
Filed under: American, Fast Food | Tags: Paleo burger, Protein-style burger
Unfortunately not in Oregon
http://www.in-n-out.com/menu.asp
If you’ve never been to In-N-Out, we highly suggest you visit one! There are only 4 items on their menu. Double Double Burger, Cheeseburger, Hamburger and Fries (which are fresh and awesome too, if you want to cheat a bit). Of course they have the regular libations at a fast food place, but also an assortment of milkshakes. I hear they are tasty! Not that I would know :P
We were in Arizona for Christmas. Everytime we go there or to California, we go to In-N-Out. They have a Secret menu, with options to order your burger “Protein-Style” or “Animal-Style”. ”Protein-Style” burger means no bun. ”Animal-Style” means mustard and relish cooked on your patty.
For a list of all the items on the Secret Menu, check this link out!
http://www.badmouth.net/in-n-outs-secret-menu/
What we ordered: 2 Double Double burgers
How we ordered it: 2 “Protein-Style” Double Double burgers please! No cheese or special sauce. Add onions!
What we got:
Protein Style Double Double Burger
Cost: cheap, it is fast food afterall…Double Double Burger – $2.99 + tax = $3.25-ish….
Quality: Their motto is – Quality you can taste. It’s pretty darn accurate. Their veggies are all cut on site. For a quick easy meal while you’re traveling to the Southwest – In-N-Out is perfect!
Quantity: If you order “Protein Style” and you’re hungry, definitely get at least two of them!
MEAT-O-METER says!
Since we were in Arizona for only a few days, we had to make the most of our In ‘n Out experience. Going on Christmas Eve (which was busy by the way) and on Sunday after Christmas, we ordered as many variations of the “Protein Style” burger as possible. We ordered the “Protein Style” burger with “Animal Style” additions. (mustard and relish on the patty). Also you can add pickles and fried onions. Mmmmmmm….so good.
We would love to open up an In-N-Out joint, but it is still a privately owned family business. Their employees get benefits! That’s pretty sweet.
In-N-Out is a multiple stop restaurant for your Paleo needs fer sure!!!!!
1440 N. Lombard St. Portland, Oregon, 97217
I would put the website here, but I can’t do it, I just can’t bring myself to do it….
Yes, we know, fast food. But for research purposes, we had to investigate. When you’re on the road and all your choices are McD’s, Burger King and Panda Express….hmmm, which one r u going to try?
I know what you’re thinking, anyone could have told me that, but just to be fair and objective, we had to find out first hand.
What we ordered: Teriyaki Chicken, Barbecue Pork, Stir-fry mixed vegetables.
How we ordered it: Basically it’s like a la carte. You look at the foods in their metal trays and tell them which ones you want. 2 entrees and a side. We picked the mixed vegetables instead of the rice. Kudos for the choices and visual-ness of the food. I asked for some of the pineapple pieces in another entree and they were nice and accomodating!
What we got: We got some reasonable servings. At first glance, you’re thinking…not bad! Then we tasted it….
First, the pork wasn’t bad, then we tasted the chicken and that tasted like the pork, then we tasted the veggies and that also tasted like the pork and then we decided that the pork didn’t really taste like pork, then the food just blended together and actually, didn’t really taste like anything.
Cost: Cheap! $5.95 for 2 entrees and one side.
Quality: Does it really matter now…(On a side note: They did score a 100 on KATU News’ Dirty Dining Report)
Quantity: Not bad
Meat-O-Meter says!
Is there a fast food place out there that can satisfy a Paleo’s appetite? The search continues….
