www.sdchamber.org

Lunch of the Month: O’Brothers

By Lisa Gesner

Created from a backyard grilling dream of the “world’s tastiest 100% organic beef burger” by brothers Derek and Craig Cowling, O’Brothers has grown from serving hungry neighbors to shoppers and burger-lovers in San Diego’s Horton Plaza.  O’Brothers promises that “everything that touches your lips, including cups and napkins, is 100% certified organic.”  Not only that, but O’Brothers has the only (that they know of) fully certified organic kitchen in all of California. That’s impressive.

Located just above the Levi’s store in Horton plaza, O’Brothers offers a fresh menu of burgers, organic drinks, fries and vegetarian options.  Patrons can order their burgers to go, or sit in the restaurant and watch the hustle and bustle of Horton plaza through ceiling-high windows.  My dining companions and I were impressed by the quick, friendly service, and the restaurant’s complete commitment to everything organic.   The  countertops are made from reclaimed glass, concrete and copper, and the staff’s shirts are organic materials.  Straws are made from biodegradable cornstarch, and condiments are homemade (and delicious) and, of course, organic.  All the beef used for the burgers comes from a 250,000-acre organic farm in North Dakota, and doesn’t contain pesticides, antibiotics or hormones.

“We found our niche in simple, great burgers gone organic.  Keeping the menu small lets us really showcase the fresh ingredients” said co-owner Derek Cowling. “This is, simply put, the best burger you will ever try.”

On my first visit to O’Brothers (they opened in February) my dining partners and I tested out a few of the menu’s staples and special offerings.  The “Big O” burger, with avocado, onions, tomato, a “secret sauce,” organic bacon and cheese proved to be tasty and satisfying.  We also tried a special, the Cobb salad with homemade ranch dressing, bacon, chicken, cherry tomatoes, baby lettuce, avocado and goat cheese – a delicious lighter option.  For those non-meat eaters who miss their burgers, fear not.  O’Brothers makes an excellent “veggie burger,” grilled portabella mushroom covered in cheese, tomato and tangy herb spread.  Burgers come with a green salad (with cherry tomatoes, organic goat cheese and homemade ranch or balsamic) but we recommend an extra side of the organic fries, which are dusted with sea salt, minced garlic and parsley, thin-cut, and perfectly crispy.  These mouthwatering fries come with a side of organic ranch/garlic aioli or homemade ketchup. The burgers are fantastically non-greasy, and we all agreed that while we were full after our meal, none of us felt like we had over-eaten. 

O’Brothers doesn’t lack in dessert, either.  We sampled one of their organic oatmeal, peanut butter, and chocolate chip cookies, which were dense, sweet, and quite literally the size of a muffin.  We also suggest you try O’Brothers selection of organic beer, wine, and sodas – like the Blue Sky Black Cherry Cherish soda.

Our verdict? Once you go organic, you may never go back!  To help you take the first organic step, O’Brothers is running a special online promotion via Twitter. Five of the O’Brothers’ first 1000 followers at www.twitter.com/obrothers will be randomly selected to receive one free meal a week (burger or salad, fries, and drink) for the rest of 2009.

For a full menu and more information, visit O’Brothers online at http://obrothersburgers.com, or call (619) 615-0909.