Grub Burger Bar: Good Food. Great Vibes.

Sometimes you just crave a good burger, and for those times, you should go to Grub Burger Bar!

I heard that G.R.U.B. stands for…

G: Good people
R: Real food
U: Unique Vibe
B: Big flavor

… and they’re not lying! Between the lip-lickin’ burgers, the great vibes, spiked milkshakes (uh huh… more on that below) and the fresh flavors, this place has truly got it all.

When you think of a burger bar, you might not think about meat-free options, but don’t be fooled! Grub has vegetarian options to accommodate diners of different palettes. No matter what you order here, there’s one thing you can expect: Freshness.

The meat is chosen from the best cuts and is ground in-house daily; the sauces and dressings are all homemade; and the buns are baked fresh every single hour. Yeah… Grub is doing it right, and you can definitely taste the difference in the freshness.

First, the burgers

Grub’s gourmet burgers are to die for!

At a special menu tasting, I was introduced to the manager, Jason, who was super nice and very personable. He told us details on each dish and recommended some burgers based on our flavor preferences. Then he went the extra mile and paired our burgers with sides. Ok. So now I’m super impressed. Not only do they know their stuff but you quickly get a sense that Grub is much more than a burger joint. This place is ripe with culture and good great people!

As for the burgers you can sink your teeth into, the most popular is the Lockhart Legend, which combines bacon, cheddar cheese, two onion rings, and sliced dill pickles, all resting underneath a unique and tasty Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce!!

They also have a Mac ‘N’ Cheeseburger which literally includes yummy mac ‘n’ cheese along with cheese sauce, making for a cheese-lover’s dream. Then, of course, they add bacon. Because who doesn’t love bacon? 🙂

The Lockhart Legend

Mac ‘N’ Cheeseburger

The menu at Grub Burger Bar is SUPER creative, and, their burgers have some of the coolest names to match. In the mood for guac with a kick? Then try the Guacapotle with chipotle aioli, cheddar cheese & homemade guacamole. Or, if you fancy more fierce flavors the Voo Doo Mushroom has Absinthe sautéed mushrooms, Swiss & Tabasco mayo. Other well imagined burgers include You’re My Boy Blue which consists of crumbled bleu cheese, balsamic caramelized onions, tomato & arugula, the Bacon Love #9 which totally lives up to its name with yummy applewood smoked bacon, pickles, lettuce, tomato & secret sauce #9, the Texas Luau that features juicy braised pulled pork, a tangy grilled pineapple slice, grilled jalapeños, and topped with lettuce and tomato. You can even take your tastebuds on a flavor-filled adventure with the Thai Peanut with creamy peanut butter, roasted peanuts, cilantro lime coconut flakes, and Sambal mayo, or grub on the Scorpion burger that packs a lot of bite with pepper jack cheese, Trinidad Moruga scorpion sauce, grilled jalapeños, lettuce & tomato. Sounds tasty, right?!

The Texas Luau

As if these options weren’t tasty enough, they also offer vegetarian-friendly eats like the Hippie Chickpea which is meatless ground chickpea & eggplant burger with roasted red pepper mayo, roasted red bell peppers, arugula, red onions, goat cheese & tabbouleh served on a wheat bun. My personal faves were the Wild Alaskan Salmon and Jive Turkey. The salmon burger had wild Alaskan salmon, an ancho chili burger, avocado, black bean & charred corn medley, tequila lime aioli, fresh cilantro… creating a seafood-southwestern flair. As for the turkey burger, it was seasoned with pesto, then topped with bacon (duh), Swiss cheese, sprouts, avocado (yum), and a flavorful chipotle aioli.

I told you their burgers were bomb!

Want a bite?

Wild Alaskan Salmon burger… Layers upon layers of goodness!

Jive Turkey burger w/black bean & charred corn medley

Plus, Grub offers Market Burgers that change each month, giving you a great excuse to come back every few weeks to try their newest bite. 😛 February’s Market Burger (though it’s gone now) was the Cuban, which had a mojo marinated pork patty, black forest ham, caramelized onion mustard, Swiss cheese, and pickles, all on a homemade garlic bun. Dee-lish!!

Market munchies: The Cuban burger

I got to try most of their bangin’ burgers as well as the onion rings, waffle-cut sweet potato fries, and the black bean & charred corn medley. The onion rings were beer-battered and served with a homemade chipotle ketchup… a tasty twist on an old favorite!

About the spiked milkshakes

I told you I’d get to these! A spiked milkshake is exactly what it sounds like… it’s basically the adult version of a sweet treat which I call “hand-spun happiness.” 😀 The best part about this is that if you’re at Grub with your kid, you can both have a milkshake, and they will have no clue that yours is spiked with alcohol… hehe.

The “adult” milkshake flavors are Bourbon & Caramel, Boozy Mint Chocolate Chip, Dirty Kitchen Sink (chocolate vodka, pretzels, peanut butter, butterscotch sauce, caramel sauce, chocolate chips, potato chips… etc.!), Tipsy Worms and Dirt, and ET Drunk Dial (chocolate vodka, Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter, chocolate, and a peanut butter cookie).

Needless to say, these kicked up treats combine dessert and drinks, so you’re knocking out two birds with one… sip! 😉

If you’re looking for something a little less sweet, their drink menu also includes signature cocktails, wine, and craft beers that tap into local breweries.

Back Porch Punch

Peach Martini with a hint of jalapeño

Grub gives back

Lastly, besides the burgers, another fabulous thing about Grub is their involvement in the community. They support a lot of local organizations and they also partner with schools and charities by offering profits from the day to support them. I was so impressed by this and their willingness to be a real influence in the community! Hmmm… Sounds like G.R.U.B. should be called H.U.G.S. because they’re Helping Underserved Groups Succeed. 😀

Buns for benefit

Another thing they do that I loved was that they offer leftover buns from the day to patrons. Basically, you can grab a bag, make a donation, and the donation goes to charity. It is seriously such a cool and thoughtful idea!

Buns for benefit

Real Food & Real People

The fact that Grub’s vibe matches its mission is probably my favorite part about this place. They serve up delicious eats and fab drinks, all while providing a great atmosphere and giving back to their local area. Talk about a restaurant that’s much more than boast-worthy burgers! I’d imagine that hugs and high-fives happen pretty often at Grub, and I can’t wait to go back so I can scratch a few more burgers off my “to-bite” list!

Grub Burger Bar is located at 2955 Cobb Parkway SE, Suite 820, at Akers Mill Square in Atlanta, GA.

I was compensated a yummy meal in exchange for my opinion, however all drooling is my own. 😛