Want to try a new restaurant that isn’t too far from campus? Look no further than a mile down 12th Avenue and you’ll find Burger Up.
Now, don’t get me wrong, burger places like Five Guys and Cheeseburger Charley’s are good, but sometimes it’s nice to switch it up and try something different. Burger Up is more than a big hunk of beef, though. The trendy restaurant also has something for the health conscious out there too, offering up turkey burgers and black bean burgers.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Burger Up is the homey atmosphere and friendly servers. You don’t feel out of place and uptight like you might would at some “classy” restaurants. This modern-rustic restaurant with exposed brick and wood cladding is the perfect setting for a date, business lunch or family dinner.
The servers at Burger Up interested me because they all put off an artistic vibe and were rocking the “hipster” look.Most of them wore deep v-necks and skinny jeans, including my waitress, Natalie Bryd.
“I moved from Alabama to Tennessee to pursue the music thing,” Bryd said. “Most people think we are all trying to be hipsters, but 80 percent of us that work here are musicians.”
Now, let’s get to what really matters — the food. Even though Bryd has worked at Burger Up for 2 ½ years and suggested The Woodstock, the most popular burger, I ordered The Marathon with truffle fries.
The Marathon is a quinoa and black bean burger topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and cilantro lime crème fraiche. The truffle fries are tossed in mushroom oil and sprinkled with parmesan cheese. Dip them in Burger Up’s homemade ketchup made with Jack Daniels and its magical.
Besides being organic and reasonably priced, the food is super tasty. I enjoyed every bite of my burger and I never needed a refill due to the carafe of cold water left sitting in the middle of the table for my convenience.
Due to its small size, Burger Up feels like one of those “Hole in the Wall” restaurants you happily discover and keep secret. Of course, this isn’t the case with Burger Up because everyone talks about it and it’s always teeming with customers.
So, if you like the intimacy of small restaurants, a menu loaded with delicious options slightly out of the norm and ingredients from local farms in Tennessee, visit Burger Up. And be on the lookout for Burger Up #2 opening soon in Cool Springs!