Seed Burger offers new-age vegan take on American classics

No dish is more American than a combination of a burger and fries. With the prominence of Instagram “food porn,” it seems like every restaurateur is looking to elevate the nation’s classic with gourmet touches. Veganism and clean eating are also becoming mainstream lifestyle choices, and vegan spots like by CHLOE. and Veganized that whip up decadent dishes are proving that food can be enjoyable whether you eat meat or not. 

Amid the slew of pizza parlors, Asian takeout and fat sandwiches that dominate Easton Avenue is a new burger joint: Seed Burger. The new eatery is showing off their gourmet, meat and dairy-free take on America’s quintessential go-to. 

After teasing a “soft opening” all of last semester only serving ice cream, nitro coffee and kombucha on tap, Seed Burger’s Easton Avenue location finally debuted a full menu last month. Upon first walk-in, the ambiance is definitely there: the bright but not fluorescent lighting and minimalist, clean interior makes you feel like you’re about to make a clean, healthy choice. The Seed Burger light wall installation that lies on a bed of fake grass is certainly Instagram worthy. 

The menu includes vegetarian staples like black bean, kale and quinoa patty options, but also offers imitation meat for those who crave but can’t eat the real thing. The Impossible Seed Burger patty resembles, tastes like and even oozes the way a juicy, medium-rare beef patty does, making this selection perfect for the meat lover of the friend group. 

While the patty selection is decent, the signature burgers — predesigned combinations for those who are too lazy or too indecisive to “build” their own — lack variety. Unless you opt to add chaze (nut-based imitation cheese) or avocado, each burger generally consists of the same 4 to 5 toppings: the classic spinach, tomato, pickle and red onion, and either their special sauce or a vegan shoyu mayo. The patties aren’t made in-house,  and instead are delivered from various vegetarian patty manufacturers — another thing to keep in mind when determining how gourmet Seed Burger really is. 

Nonetheless, the burgers are filling, taste fresh and are all reasonably priced. If you’re cutting carbohydrates or can’t tolerate gluten, there are lettuce and gluten-free bun options for you. For fries, you have the options of sweet potato, curly classic or yuca, and you can add on a side of imitation chicken nuggets as well. 

Sweet potato fries have a reputation of being soggy, but because Seed Burger air fries instead of deep frying, their sweet potato fries are simply addictive. Conventional soft drinks like Pepsi and Sprite are not offered — instead, guests can treat themselves to fresh juices made in-house that are sweet and thirst-quenching. I recommend the pink juice, with hints of papaya and pomegranate. 

After a savory indulgence, you’re bound to crave something sweet. Seed Burger features a delicious selection of dairy-free ice cream from Asbury Park-based Cookman Creamery, with flavors like cookie butter and almond joy. You’re more than likely to get hooked on this stuff — if so, the burger joint sells each flavor by the pint to take home. 

If you’re vegan or simply craving something cleaner after too many late night trips to Diesel and Duke, Seed Burger is definitely worth trying. It’s about time a new, clean eatery opened near the College Avenue campus. Between the fresh food and the welcoming environment, you’ll want to stay a while at Seed Burger.