Next Level Burger Potrero Hill

Meatless Burger Chain Wants to Save the World in Potrero Hill | Eater SF

"A Bend, Oregon–founded non-meat burger chain, Next Level Burger has opened a shop at 450 Rhode Island Street inside the Potrero Hill Whole Foods, complementing that store’s beer bar, Steep Brew; it’s open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The chain positions itself amid a swelling wave of consumer demand for plant-based options—CEO Matt de Gruyte says two thirds of Americans now want to cut back on meat, with health remaining the top reason and climate change rising to number two—and he frames the concept as a responsibility given record temperatures and raging fires. The menu focuses on burgers with patties made from mushrooms, quinoa, black beans and other ingredients, and also carries Beyond Meat patties (it does not use Impossible Foods because of a commitment to avoid GMOs); other offerings include salads, crinkle-cut fries, soy- or coconut-based shakes, and non-meat hot dogs. The brand prefers the term “plant-based” over “vegan” to avoid negative associations and aims to be inclusive—appealing to both dedicated vegans and casual meat-eaters—eschewing dogma so it can simply be the place where you get that burger fix." - Caleb Pershan