Habit Burger & Grill — Restaurant in Meridian

The short: Mediocre fast food at restaurant prices with bad management.

The long: The first time I went when the place opened the prices were reasonable, the staff professional and competent, and the food was great.

Fast forward to last weekend...

The first thing I notice are the prices. They have gone from reasonable to downtown Boise gouging.

The next thing I noticed was how my foot was sticking to the floor. There were no visible signs of a culprit, so something had been spilled but hadn't been cleaned up properly.

Then there was the advertisement for a free burger at the register! But in small print it was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of landing on the moon and astronauts qualify. My internal dialogue said, "That is awesome for astronauts! Yay for us landing on the moon!" Then I thought, "Wait... they are advertising free burgers to get people in, but it only applies to astronauts. There's what... a hundred'ish of them living across the U.S.? This doesn't even apply to the thousands of people who worked to put those astronauts in space, much less the ones who worked in space exploration and research in general."

I was annoyed, but it was time to take our order.

The guy taking our order rattled off his into lines like a robo caller. My significant other ordered a burger ending it with, "Just the burger, please." The man at the counter asked how she would like her burger prepared and then asked, "Would you like fries and a drink with that?" We both paused for a second, looked at each other, and then looked back at him, and at the same time said, "No."

Then he asked if that was everything. I stared at the guy, thinking in my head, "Um... hey... you forgot someone... over in this direction." Again my spouse and I glance at each other. I spoke up, "Yeah, I would like a number 2." Again he asked how to prepare the burger. Then he asked, "Would you like fries and a drink with that?"

I'm pretty sure I looked like a fish with my mouth gaping at that moment. I studied him to see if he comprehends anything about what he just asked.

Nope.

I then look at the menu above to verify that I wasn't crazy and that a number 2 is what I thought it was... a combo meal... with fries and a drink... kind of like every other freaking burger joint anywhere. I brought my expression of incredulity back on to his blank staring eyes, wondering if I should call him out or if it would even be worth my time because he was the FREAKING MANAGER of the establishment. I looked back at my wife, and she shrugged at me."

There was a trainee standing behind the guy with her eyes fixed on him, completely confused because he kept asking things that have already been answered. There was a long pause while I gathered my words, during which time this inept knucklehead continued to stare at me with an annoyed look at this point. I simply defaulted back to Idaho politeness and said, "Yes."

It was almost a half hour after that when our food was ready. The food was room temperature, messy, and too salty. And I should to clarify what I mean by too salty. If my meal doesn't max my daily recommended intake of sodium, I'm probably going to think it was bland. This food made me wince from saltiness. They managed to give us two extra orders of fries, which would be great if it came with an apology about how long it took our food to be ready... and if the fries weren't luke warm, floppy bits of potato. Instead we saw it as just another sign of their incompetence.

I was a fan after my first experience here. I'd rather have a frozen food dinner after my second. As a constructive bit of criticism to these guys:

Perhaps hire a guy with a bit more memory than a goldfish to be your manager. Perhaps not make big advertisements for free things that won't apply for the vast majority of your patrons Maybe hire enough people to get your orders out in a reasonable amount of time. Try to get a freaking potato right......

The Habit Burger Grill... ahhh the memories... the food... the experiences that i will never forget...

if you had told me sixteen years ago that i would be leaving this review, i likely would have said “why, what in the heck is habit burger and grill?!” how i envy my former ignorance. so young. so naive. so innocent and happy, yet lacking so much—lacking good burgers.

a broad future i had ahead of me: so many burgers to be had. so many fries to be shared. i knew in my heart that someday i would find my direction. find my purpose. but the key to my internal happiness was not here. so i went searching for answers. and hence my journey begins.

lost and afraid, i wandered. i drifted alone in search of a burger that could satisfy my strongest desires. a burger that could turn me in the right directions. a burger that could be there for me, through the thick and the thin. through the good times and the bad. at times i believed i could go no further. at times i wanted nothing more than to give up. but i did not. i knew there was an answer... i knew... i knew... in my darkest times i would think of what i was fighting for. what the end goal was. this is what kept me moving. and this is what brought me to where i am today.

fast forward sixteen years and i’m face down into a Santa Barbara Char. with a burger in my hands and content in my heart, i was home. the double patties clash with the avocado, creating a battle of flavor in my mouth. the cheese melts on my tongue. warm. inviting. the sourdough bread to top it all off, perfectly complementing and topping off what is a flawless burger.

i finish the burger. i am full. but it is more than this. i have been full before, many times after a large meal. this is different. not only is my stomach full, but so is my soul. for once in my life i am fulfilled. i am happy. i am whole.

as i reflect on the past sixteen years, i feel pity on the man i was before The Habit Burger Grill gave my life direction. so much of my life spent in search of a burger. a life wasted? or rather a life ultimately fulfilled? had i not been set on my journey, perhaps i could have made something of myself. became something more. alas, the past can not be changed, and i am left instead with a fantastic burger—a result of which i am satisfied. but do not share the same woes that i have suffered. it would be an insult to me, to yourself, but most importantly to The Habit Burger Grill. no. instead, i leave you with this: live your life. do what you love and love what you have. do not search perpetually for an answer like me. eat at The Habit Burger Grill. in this is life. in this is peace. in this...

DUDE this place has it all! One bite of their signature Charburger will have you dreaming of the next visit. I’ve had plenty of delicious burgers from chains but the Habit outshines most! I probably visit at least once a month so allow me to highlight my favorite menu pieces:

Right off the bat I can tell you my all-time favorite is the Santa Barbara Char. This masterpiece includes two hot, fresh, chargrilled beef patties with cheese and avocado on grilled sourdough. Talk about a world wonder. Whenever I think of the yummiest burgers I’ve had, this one lands near to top of my list. That’s saying a lot considering I’ve eaten more burgers than you (I’m totally willing to bet on that.).

Another item I can’t leave with raving about is the new(ish, by now) Chicken Caprese on Garlic Ciabatta. This seasonal sandwich features a fat, juicy piece of chargrilled chicken breast on toasted garlic ciabatta with tomatoes and lettuce, topped with melted mozzarella cheese and basil pesto aïoli. This sandwich is a burst of flavor, a neat twist to bring a little Italian to this burger joint. If it’s still offered, you best get yourself one before it’s gone.

Lastly, it would be downright disrespectful to leave out the OG. If you didn’t have a Charburger at least once have you ever really been to the Habit. This signature can come with one or two juicy chargrilled patties, but I only recommend the latter if you’re feeling up for a challenge or sharing the meal. I got one today and ended up having to save half it was so darn big. It will make a fantastic lunch tomorrow!

Before I leap off my soapbox, I would like to name a few honorable mentions, all sides. French fries, onion rings, sweet potato fries and tempura green beans are all fabulous choices, can’t go wrong with any of them. I mean, the salad is good too, but if you’re going to get a burger for crying out loud give yourself a break just get the damn fries.

This review may be a little over the top for a chain, but it’s well deserved. Hit up the Habit if you’re looking for a quality burger. Just like me, you just might make a...