After nearly five years of creative cocktails and delicious dining options at their first South Boston outpost, the talented team behind The Franklin Café has decided to bring their latest food fantasy to the transforming traditional neighborhood.
Cozied up along the side of historic L Street (home of the Brownies and the bar featured in “Good Will Hunting”), the recently-revealed Tasty Burger brings almost everything that the popular Fenway location offers and adds a distinctly Southie feel. As it is a sidewalk stand with no indoor seating, the original TB’s impressive beer and wine list is notably absent. What TB II loses in libation (and a slightly earlier closing time), however, it makes up in charm, flavor and portability. Pull up a piece of sidewalk at the nearby gas station or take your swelling sack of burgers to Carson Beach and you got the fixins of a great meal or a great escape from the everyday feed break.
With a dozen 1/3-pound burger options (each of which is available as a beef, turkey or veggie burger), TB has plenty of victual variety. As they also offer gluten-free rolls or even a lettuce wrap (upon request), it is as safe and health-conscious a burger as you can get in these parts. If a pattie is not your thing, TB also offers “shafts” (hot dogs), chili, fresh-cut fries, shakes, soft serve (a Southie exclusive!) and even “fro-yo” for their ever-more-trendy neighbors. The only thing Tasty Burger may truly be lacking (considering their Tarantino-inspired title) is an Orange Julius or a Royale with Cheese. But when asked about his latest creation, the brains behind the burger (a.k.a., Franklin founder David Dubois) seems pretty content.
When asked what gave him the idea to go from a swanky café to a street-side burger joint, Dubois says that it had actually been a long-time dream. “I always wanted to do a burger place,” he explains, noting that the gas station that now houses the original TB became available as he was developing Citizen Public House across the street.
Though the service is fast at TB, Dubois emphasizes that his burgers are not made in a typical “fast food” way. “We char-grill our burgers to give it a cookout flavor,” he says, adding that the beef is Hereford, which is even purer and rarer than the oft-vaunted Angus.
When asked why a “burger place” (especially one in an historically tough neighborhood like Southie) would bother with veggies and yogurt, let alone gluten-free anything, Dubois falls back on his well-known desire to please his guests and to give them things that even they may not know they want yet. “The public demands choices,” he observes. “With the prevalence of gluten allergies and an increase in vegetarianism you have to offer options for these patrons.” After all, he reasons, “Why should they be deprived of Tasty Burger?”
Similar logic appears to behind the kid-sized menu. “Kids love burgers,” Dubois says. “What kid doesn’t want a special meal just for them?”
While the vegan and allergic-friendly items are notable, where TB really shines is in the variety of its “Burger of the day” menu, which, true to title, actually changes every day!
“We have hundreds of recipes” Dubois says, explaining that the kitchen managers come up with a new combo every morning and that many are suggested by fans through the website. ”We use one or two of theirs a week,” Dubois explains, adding that patrons who participate are eligible to win a free lunch.
As he looks forward to bringing his tasty burgers to South Boston and soon to Harvard Square (which will offer two levels of seating, free pool tables and food until 4 AM!) Dubois is feeling pretty proud..,and maybe even a bit righteous. When asked what his future plans are, he replies, “Isn’t it obvious? The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.”
Fortunately, Dubois does not seem to mind.
Tasty Burger
69 L Street, South Boston, MA
617 425 4444
www.tastyburger.com/tasty-burger-southie/