Mellow Mushroom, a flourishing purveyor of eclectic stone-baked pizzas, has ventured into unprecedented territory with the recent addition of beef and veggie burgers to its lineup.
October 1, “Carnie” and “Herb” made their long-awaited debut in locations across the nation, including the South Miami outpost, the first Mellow Mushroom to sprout up in Miami-Dade County.
Many customers have been asking for burger options for quite some time, says Harvey Zelaya, the general manager of Mellow Mushroom in South Miami. After being previewed at select locations in Georgia, Florida, Texas, Alabama, and South Carolina this past summer, Mellow Mushroom spread the beef.
“It will do really well, especially down here in South Florida because we are new,” Zelaya says. “If you go to Georgia, there are Mellow Mushrooms at every corner; whereas, here in Dade County, we’re the first one. When they Google 'burgers,' we want to be part of that family and provide more choices for our guests.”
Guests can take a bite out of the “Carnie” burger, made with 100 percent choice, all-natural, certified Black Angus beef from family-owned-and-operated Harris Ranch and served on a grilled brioche bun. Toppings include Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, garlic aioli, romaine lettuce, tomato, and pickle chips.
Or they can choose the veggie burger, “Herb.” Featuring a patty made from kale, quinoa, brown rice, and roasted mushrooms, this veggie burger is as filling and delicious as the beef version. It’s finished with fresh avocado, cheddar cheese, garlic aioli, romaine lettuce, tomato, and onion and is also served on a grilled brioche bun.
Both burgers are priced at $9.99 and come with roasted red potatoes with crisp caramelized onions. In addition to providing more meal options for guests, Mellow Mushroom aims to stick with its original branding of health, fun, and creativity. “Another thing we’re always asked is if we’re going to have French fries,” Zelaya says. “Fryers are something we’ll never do because we still want to remain healthy and keep away from fried foods. That’s why we have roasted potatoes that come with our burgers.”
Often dubbed a stoner’s paradise since its inception in the 1970s, Mellow Mushroom serves pizza, ice-cold beer, and as of late, Mellow burgers. There’s now something for everyone to enjoy on the menu.
“We’re looking to have more people see us as not just as a pizzeria joint but a casual dining concept, because that’s what we are,” Zelaya says.
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