Boon Burger has been a staple in downtown Barrie for just over four years and offers a delicious alternative to the regular menu.
The restaurant, located at 112 Dunlop St. E., has been serving up a healthy plant-based menu to many and while the name implies a plentiful burger menu, Boon’s training and project co-ordinator Daniela Pacitto loves the whole menu for its health-conscience direction.
“The main focus here is the burgers and we also make everything in-house except of course the basic condiments, and I feel that sets us apart from some other establishments,” said Pacitto. “We don’t have any deep-fryers here and everything is oven baked which is refreshing for those looking to eat healthier.”
Boon is totally nut-free and all vegan, meaning that all the food is plant-based. A lot of the items on the menu are also soy free and it is the fact that Boon watches out for allergies that is part of bringing people back. Pacitto says that there are many regulars that come in every week and it is great to know they’re doing good by those customers.
“We most certainly get regulars here who will order the same thing a lot but it is really cool to see new people who are taking a while to look over the menu because they don’t know anything on it,” said Pacitto. “Knowing that maybe someone stopped in for a quick bite and is about to see how delicious the alternative to meat is really encouraging.”
Pacitto has been working at Boon going on three years now and has been full vegan since that time. While she had been heading in that direction, getting the job at Boon helped her solidify the change in lifestyle.
“You certainly don’t have to be vegan to work here but personally I am,” said Pacitto. “Getting the job here really helped push me towards that. I grew up fishing and hunting with my dad but outgrew that and my love for animals is what made the full switch for me. It is a personal choice and not everyone feels that way, I would say that about 90 per cent of our customers are meat eaters but really enjoy the food when they come in.”
If you’ve been on the fence about trying vegan food choices, the Boon Burger menu will sway you in their direction. 30 different burgers await you with their bases being black bean, chick peas or rice. The Spicy Buffalo, the Backyard BBQ and the Greek Almighty are just a few that are sure to keep you coming back for more as will the poutine and nacho items.
Boon sees the same busy times as most other establishments and while the colder months tend to be the slower of the year, the current special is the Fall favourite pumpkin pie soft serve dessert. While it tastes just like a flavourful pumpkin pie ice cream the base is coconut milk. Whether you are looking for a quick snack and grab some of their cookies or an ice cream sandwich or are having a BBQ and need to stock up on their burgers in bulk, Boon is ready to accommodate.
“Many people who are just getting into the vegan lifestyle and are not not sure what to eat or what to buy come in here and get some ideas,” said Pacitto. “It really isn’t that hard if you decide to make the switch in your diet, it's just as easy to be vegan than it is to eat meat. It really is the same as anything else you decide to do that is new and once you get the hang of it, it becomes easy whether it is knowing what to order or knowing how to cook it.”
Check out Boon Burger’s menu and all other information at www.boonburger.ca
