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Health & Fitness

Herb 'n' Om's STL Vegan Burger Tour: The Royale

Herb 'n' On's STL Vegan Burger Tour Continues: Catch them at The Royale in South City!

The Royale

3132 South Kingshighway

St. Louis, MO 63139

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Hours: M-Sa 11:30am-1:30am / Sun 11:30am-12:00am

This seemingly little hipster South City Tavern has always been a favorite for us- even for two preps (barf) like us. As former South City residents who paid our dues by rehabbing two properties in the neighborhood, we spent quite a few nights throwing back the local selections. We also indulged in the thoughtful menu selections as the community is also represented in their impressive list of food for an omnivore and vegans as well. But tonight, we are here for one thing - The Match Burger.

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Herb’s Take

First Words: This is big!

Match Meat is a local company that produces 100% animal free plant-based meat alternatives. The goal of the founder, Allison Burgess, is to not so much appeal to vegans, but rather to meat eaters. She wants to convert the carnivores; the vegans are already there. If there is any hope in this she better damn well create an authentic tasting, textured, scented patty that can hold up to beside the real deal. Yes, I am not their target audience, I still have a pretty big mouth and the more often I indulge in Match, the more I sing their praises and I like to think that somebody is listening and will give it a try.

Ok- the Royale’s take on the Match Burger. For $9 you get what looks like to be about a 3/4” thick patty, weighing in at about 1/2 lb delivered complete with sear marks. This also includes one side. Asparagus is just coming into season, so with my big ol’ burger and my seasonal vegetables, I was no doubt in heaven. I ordered grilled onions and peppers to top, slapped down a slice of tomato, and somewhat forcefully pressed the burger down enough on to the plate to where it looked like it might actually fit into my mouth. Picture that - so ladylike, huh?

The bun is just a plain white hamburger bun and it was a little too big and just a hair to hard, not stale, perhaps too dense. The grilled pep/onions were fantastic and I really tasted the sweetness come through on the first bite all the way through the last bite. The patty’s texture and firmness did not disappoint at all. That part was eerily familiar to burgers off the Weber grill as a kid. Would you even believe there were even parts that came off and got stuck in my teeth just like the gristly part of a “real” burger? Impressive. The flavor was lacking a bit though. Match seasons their products before they are shipped out and I did taste some flavoring, but it was still a little bland. I was happy I ordered the grilled toppings. Maybe this is not the most ringing of endorsements, however, if The Royale throws in a few spices may just make all the difference.

Om’s Take

First Words: More flavor please. It might just be that we are so used to saucing, shaking or pouring more flavor on to everything we eat that when something comes across our plate that we find light on the flavor scale, we complain. I’ll try not to do that. The wife loves her Match Meat, so I was familiar with it. I too am a fan, but not a regular consumer - when she cooks it, I eat it. I ordered cheese on my burger and also loaded on the grilled onions and peppers. After a couple of bites, I also dumped on a lot of catchup. (Yes, I know, I’m a lost cause). I will give MM props for creating such a realistic patty and I really enjoyed eating a burger with such weight and substance. The Royale serves up a solid portion, no stupid flat burger and not wasting my time on a slider - I want my burger. Their presentation was good, too. My plate was full with the open burger, stacked high with a patty, cheese and grilled vegetables. My side was Billy Goat Chips. We have since moved out of the neighborhood, so unfortunately we are not the regulars we once were, The Royal is still a place we still like to hang out, so I have a feeling we’ll be back soon and I know at least one of us will be ordering the Match burger again .

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