Healthy fast food: it might sound like an oxymoron, but it’s exactly what b.good delivers. The restaurant operates on a motto of “real food fast,” promising fare which doesn’t leave you feeling “sick and unhealthy.” B. good takes the basic staples of fast food (burgers, sandwiches, salads, fries and shakes) and removes the oils, preservatives and huge portion sizes that have given fast food its recent bad rap, alá Supersize Me.
Vegetarians should note that b. good is a healthy fast food joint, not a hot spot for health food. B.good has a very limited menu for vegetarians, featuring mostly burgers and chicken-based food. The southwestern veggie, one of the two veggie burgers on the menu, lacks any real flavor, except for the odd after-taste. But the crisp veggies in sesame soy sauce are excellent, as are the delicious oven-baked fries with b.good seasoning.
B.good also offers creamy fruit shakes that are both smooth and sweet. And the Asian chicken salad is more pleasing than even that of a certain arched fast-food establishment.
Nutritional information is conveniently provided for everything on the menu (most burgers clock in at fewer than 500 calories, and the oven-baked fries are only 120); the only condiments available are ketchup, mustard and non-fat mayonnaise. Diet beverages are plentiful, making it rather difficult to over-indulge here. The ambiance at b. good also makes one feel good, with pillows on the seats, serene paintings and adobe- and sage-colored walls.
As pledged, the food tastes fresh and doesn’t leave you with any post-binging regret and/or nausea. However, fans of that feeling might find themselves making a beeline for the nearest convenience store after their meals.
Compared to your typical fast-food place, b.good’s portions are smaller with prices on par with sandwich chains, like D’Angelos ($5.95 for a burger, $5.95 to $7 for hot sandwiches, $5 to $7 for salads), but if you can refrain from going to the deli when you’re done, the sacrifice of portion-to-price ratio is worth it.
b.good is located at 131 Dartmouth St. in Copley Square and 24 Dunster St. in Cambridge.