It may be healthier, but does it taste good? Review of La Cense Beef Burger Truck

“It may be healthier, but does it taste good?”

Review of La Cense Beef Burger Truck

BY: SETH S.

La Cense Beef Burger Truck

Various Locations
http://www.lacensebeef.com/truck

Lines for the truck can get long real quick, so be prepared to wait during busy lunch hours. Photo by Seth S.

With the push towards organic, free-range, grass-fed, hormone and antibiotic-free meats and cheeses in full swing, it isn’t surprising to see menus that proudly serve this healthier option in all of their dishes.  In addition to this trend, New Yorkers are probably noticing another in the form of quality, truck-served, street food.  So it probably shouldn’t be a surprise that someone would think to combine the two and serve grass-fed beef burgers to people looking for a quick lunch during their work day.  La Cense Beef Burger truck does exactly that, cooking up burgers “fast food style” to huge lines at various locations throughout the city.

When I learned that the Burger Truck would be down in the Financial District, I knew I had to give it a try.  I am a huge hamburger fan, and although the reviews that I had read were not exactly all positive, I wanted to judge for myself.  Some of the things I had read had caused my expectations to be relatively low.   My first impression is that other reviews tend to be right on target.  For one thing, you are unable to order the burger how you like it cooked; all burgers are served medium whether you like it or not.

With La Cense proudly proclaiming that their burgers are 85% lean, it may be a bit on the dryer side for those looking for a seriously juicy piece of meat.  Another issue is that part of what makes a great burger is a delicious crust that forms during the browning process.  Unfortunately that’s not what you’ll find here.

Either the griddle is not hot enough or the burger has to come off too quickly to avoid drying out too much.

Every burger served with fried onions (which barely bring any flavor to the mix) however if you want cheese it’ll cost you an extra $.50.  There are no fries, only chips that cost $1.00, and you can add a pickle to your meal for an additional $.50 as well.

The burger: It may be healthier, but does it taste good? Photo by Seth S.

Overall, the burger is not bad at all.  The meat has a flavor that is a little earthier than the standard bar hamburger and it’s a substantial 6 oz. with a sturdy sesame seed bun.  There are no fillers like lettuce or tomato; just beef, bread, onions and cheese (if you get that added on…..a must if you ask me.).

La Cense Beef says that their patties are a blend of Sirloin Steak, Round Roast, Chuck Roast and Flank Steak, however compared to other similar blends that you may find at Shake Shack, City Hall or Minetta Tavern, the flavors do not compare. Perhaps this is due to a lack of seasoning. If cooked well, a burger should only really need some salt and pepper and this one is seriously lacking. At around $10 for a cheeseburger, chips and a pickle, the price is only high by truck food standards. Would I go back for another? Although I appreciate the quality of the beef and where it came from, I can’t say that I would. There is a wide range of great burger options in the city and considering wait time and taste, this just doesn’t match up.

To find out  La Cense Beef Burger’s whereabouts  for the week, follow it on Twitter:
twitter.com/LCBBurgerTruck