There’s something about a hamburger that latches onto our inner American. For some, savory grilled patties highlight the dish. Others might say cool, crisp vegetables make burgers more delectable. But one thing is for sure—not all burgers are created equal.

Enter Burger Lounge, home of “the original grass-fed burger.” This restaurant chain features grass-fed beef and free-range chicken and turkey as well as organic cheese and produce. Hostess and San Diego State alumna Kasey Hamilton said Burger Lounge prides itself on such practices.

According to Burger Lounge’s website, other green practices employed by the restaurant include the use of locally sourced, organic, farm-raised, regional and seasonal ingredients, as well as using reclaimed cooking oil to power its fleet of vehicles.

“People should come to Burger Lounge because it’s a healthier place to eat burgers and it’s delicious,” Hamilton said.

The difference in philosophy at Burger Lounge certainly shows in the quality of its food. I stayed true to its roots and ordered the standard Lounge Burger, a beef patty topped with patrons’ choice of organic American or white cheddar cheese, fresh or grilled onions, romaine lettuce, tomato and house-made Thousand Island dressing. I chose white cheddar and grilled onions for my burger. Of course, no burger is complete without its trusty companions french fries and onion rings, so I ordered a 1/2 and 1/2, which includes both. It’s large enough to serve two people, so I split my order with a friend. Burger Lounge offers local craft beers, wine, bottled beverages, milkshakes and also features a variety of Maine Root sodas. These beverages by Maine Root are organic, sweetened with real cane sugar and comply with fair trade regulations. I ordered the lemon-lime flavor.

It may seem fairly ridiculous to talk up something as simple as soda, but seriously—this is some good soda. The bright, citrusy lemon and lime flavors really pop, giving it much more flavor than Sprite or Sierra Mist. It was quite refreshing on a hot Saturday afternoon.

Ultimately, however, I wasn’t there for organic soda. The real mettle of Burger Lounge would have to be shown through, well, its burgers. Mine didn’t disappoint. My plate was brought in a timely manner, with the burger accompanied by a heap of onion rings and french fries.

Simply put, the burger was delicious. Every ingredient was extremely fresh and tasty. The patty was juicy, flavorful and  just the right shade of pink inside. The organic white cheddar cheese blanketed the patty, covering nearly all of it. The romaine lettuce and tomato were both cold and crisp, contrasting nicely with the hot patty and grilled onions. The house-made Thousand Island dressing put a great finishing touch on the burger, bringing all the ingredients together with its subtle yet robust flavors. The buns, though not toasted, were fresh, light and spongy and the decently sized burger was thick and heavy. The overall quality of the Lounge Burger was satisfying, to say the least.

The onion rings and fries were worthy complements to the burger. The rings were fresh and crispy, and didn’t fall apart upon first bite. They were golden brown, perfectly toasted, sprinkled with parsley flakes and absolutely delicious. Likewise, the fries were also sprinkled with parsley flakes and were tasty. However, there wasn’t anything special about them, and the onion rings were far superior in both freshness and overall taste.

The menu at Burger Lounge sticks to the minimalist decor and theme of the restaurant, but has enough options to keep everyone satisfied. Among the choices are a free-range turkey burger and an organic quinoa veggie burger for health-conscious customers. Adventurous burger enthusiasts can try a grass-fed elk burger. Salads are also an option.

Aztecs may have seen multiple Burger Lounges throughout San Diego County. Locations include Coronado, Gaslamp, Hillcrest, Kensington, La Jolla and Little Italy, with a Del Mar branch coming soon, according to the restaurant’s website. Although Burger Lounge is a chain, the quality, freshness and atmosphere put it a step above typical fast-food burger joints. The Hillcrest location was clean and modern, and the corner location on University and 4th avenues makes it feel like an exclusive neighborhood burger restaurant. There is a relatively small amount of seating indoors with windows facing the street, although more seating is available outside on the patio area.

The prices are a bit more expensive than the usual burger place, but for all of the aforementioned reasons, Burger Lounge is worth spending the extra money on.