Burger Brackets Ketchup, Part 2: It Ain’t Easy Bean Beet
Vita vs. Nix
April 6, 2018
This Burger Brackets Ketchup, Part 2 is all ’bout that (burger) bass, ’bout that (burger) bass, no treble. The base of a burger is a very important part of a great veggie burger. Der, of course. There’s bean base, seitan base, rice base, soy science franken-food base, and… there’s a beet base. But what about a veggie burger that is just a big ol’ beet? How would this unique “literal” vegetable burger fare against a mix of grains and beans? Wait–should I even go on babbling when one of the burger battles eateries featured in this post is permanently closed?! To support the many attention-impaired individuals of the world, I offer you brevity and a winning beet.
Part 2: It Ain’t Easy Bean Beet
So Vita closed at some point as I pushed my burger battles to the back burner. Kind of stinks as it was a cute all-vegan place.
The burger was made of rice and black bean. It was hearty and tasty.
But Nix’s Beet Burger, on their lunch menu only, is going to advance to take on Sacred Chow. For one, it’s a huge beet with its skin on roasted to perfection, seasoned deliciously, garnished with delicious layers of texture, and on a fantastic toasted bun. Nix is a wonderful high-end eatery that has honed its vegetable culinary craft in an exciting way. 
And it really just was a beet… smashed into a patty, like so below. If I had to conjure up a criticism: you’re eating the entire beet with its skin on. So you get a little bitterness bookending the soft earthy magenta within. All is yummy about that, but the horseradish cream doesn’t play with this bitterness nicely. Then you have more peppery assertiveness with the arugula. Even with the apples and cucumbers soothing things, a bite with the sauce leaves a bit of a bitter after-taste. A different sauce, one that emphasizes the sweetness of the beet or helps with a creamy cooling, might be better. 
But I loved this beet. It would have one even if Vita did not close.
Winner: Nix
Also worth mentioning, this smoked sweet potato with an apple chutney and candied walnuts. Hubba hubba.
Seriously such a weird choice for a veggie burger- and at an all vegetarian restaurant??! Who wants to eat the beet skin? I’ve been to Nix a few times and after this review i’ll also keep avoiding that burger….