When I was in college, studying abroad in Italy was a no-brainer. My great-grandparents are from a tiny village just outside Modena, and I was curious about my heritage.
Something that took me by surprise, though, was the realization that I didn’t want to leave.
After my semester ended, I lived and worked in Rome throughout my early 20s. Eventually, I moved back to the US and became an Italian teacher.
Although I now live in Chicago, Italy still feels like my second home: I make a point to spend summers there, mainly so my daughter can bond with her nonna.
As lucky as I am to visit Italy every year, I still wish I could go more often. Thankfully, I’ve discovered a handful of places across the US that capture the energy of my favorite Italian regions.
These cities offer Americans a slice of Italian culture, minus the hourslong flight overseas — and help quench my insatiable thirst for Italy with soul-stirring food, wine, history, and charm.
Catalina Island’s hidden coves and crystalline waters feel like Capri.
I plan a trip to Catalina Island whenever I find myself missing Capri. vesperstock/Shutterstock
Located off the coast of southern California, Catalina Island is about 22 miles long. It’s easily accessible via ferry service, which operates out of three ports near Los Angeles.
When I first visited Catalina Island, I was awed by the dramatic shorelines, crystal-clear waters, and hidden coves. I felt like I was back on Capri.
I hiked to the top of the Garden to Sky trail, catching panoramic views that felt straight out of a Mediterranean postcard. Then, I soaked up the sunshine at Descanso Beach while sipping a chilled glass of prosecco.
Florida is home to Coral Gables, a city that always reminds me of Lake Como.
Many of the homes and buildings around Coral Gables remind me of Italy. RAUL RODRIGUEZ/Getty Images
With its glamorous Mediterranean-style architecture, lush gardens, and waterfront estates, Coral Gables feels like Florida’s answer to Italy’s Lake Como.
The Italian Renaissance-inspired Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, built in the early 1900s, reminds me of the grand villas that line Como’s shores.
If you plan your own visit, don’t forget to check out the Venetian Pool — this public swimming spot was carved from a coral rock quarry, and (true to its name) feels straight out of Italy.
Chicago and Milan are “sister cities,” and it’s easy to see why.
There are a lot of similarities between the cities of Chicago and Milan. Lucky-photographer/Shutterstock
It’s no surprise to me that my hometown of Chicago and the metropolis of Milan are officially sister cities. Both feature vibrant street art, designer boutiques, and — unsurprisingly, maybe — delicious Italian food.
I always recommend that tourists plan a trip to coincide with the Randolph Street Market, a pop-up vintage extravaganza. You can also explore Chicago’s dynamic mural scene with a street art tour.
Finally, Chicago’s pizza is as hearty and rich as any slices you’d find in Italy. You can’t leave my hometown without trying our legendary deep dish.
For a classic experience, head to Giordano’s. The stuffed pizza here is a masterpiece of cheese and sauce wrapped in a golden crust.
Sonoma bears an uncanny resemblance to Tuscany.
The vineyards in Sonoma County make me feel transported to the Tuscan countryside. Robert_Ford/Getty Images
The first time I visited Sonoma, California, I was struck by how much it resembled the Tuscan countryside, from the golden hills to rustic farmhouses.
When I found myself gathered around a long wooden table at Pedroncelli Winery, surrounded by laughter, clinking glasses, and the comforting scent of fresh herbs and olive oil, I felt wrapped in the same warmth and magic of the Italian countryside.
Perhaps the most obvious similarity, though, is the locals’ deep appreciation for wine. You can even immerse yourself in vineyard life by staying at one of the several wineries that offer accommodations.
Venice Beach in California feels just like the Italian city of the same name.
I love visiting Venice Beach for a small taste of Europe. ALEXANDRE F FAGUNDES/Shutterstock
Venice Beach’s bohemian vibe and canals are an almost-perfect replica of Venice, Italy.
Developed in 1905, the canals of this coastal Los Angeles neighborhood were designed to look like those in Venice. Whenever I stroll along the picturesque bridges and waterfront homes, I almost feel like I’m in Italy … all that’s missing are the gondolas.
Frankenmuth, Michigan, reminds me of the Italian Dolomites.
If I can’t spend the holiday season near the Dolomite Alps, this city in Michigan makes me feel like I’m there. T-I/Shutterstock
This Michigan city’s Alpine-style buildings, hearty cuisine, and cozy charm really resemble the Dolomites in northeastern Italy.
Moments like browsing handcrafted wooden ornaments at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland (the world’s largest Christmas store), enjoying a traditional Alpine feast, and setting off on a riverboat cruise on the Cass River made me feel like I was celebrating Natale — or Christmas — in Europe.
This story was originally published on August 18, 2025, and most recently updated on March 26, 2026.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Denny Balmaceda. It has been edited for length and clarity.
In February, I boarded my plane that would fly from Newark Airport in Jersey City to San Francisco. My business-class seat had been booked by a clothing brand I had been working for at the time. My seat on row 11 was a window seat with my own little nook, a treat for me, who usually flies in the economy seats.
As I settled in, neatly arranging my things in the compartment above my head and around my seat, a woman I didn’t recognize kindly asked if I would mind switching seats with her so she could sit next to her husband.
I quickly said, “Sure.” I know that in economy, this kind of question can produce mixed feelings, because if you’ve booked a window seat, you’re not going to want to switch to a middle seat. But in business class, all the seats are good, so I didn’t mind.
I hadn’t realized who her husband was
Just as I responded to her request, I looked up and saw Keegan-Michael Key. I was switching seats with his wife, so she could sit next to him. She continued, explaining she thought she had booked them to sit next to each other.
I took her seat in row 10, and she took mine in row 11.
So not only did I get to travel in business class — already a lot of fun for me — I also got to travel in front of a celebrity that I absolutely love. He’s literally one of my favourite actors.
Denny Balmaceda sat right in front of Keegan-Michael Key on a plane.
Courtesy of Denny Balmaceda
His wife leaned over and said Key would be happy to take a photo with me. He did, and he was so nice. Throughout the flight, he was the same with everyone who came up to him — a real gentleman.
He was so nice
Every single person who came up to him got his time and never once seemed annoyed. He talked to everyone and let people take photos with him.
When his wife needed help with anything, he helped.
And as the flight came to an end, I asked if he could grab my bag, and he didn’t flinch — he was fine with it.
There was no sense that he thought he was above anyone on that plane. He was just a real person who happened to be a celebrity.
Working in the fashion industry, I know there are both celebrities who are rude and those who just have bad days. I know that sometimes, people just want to be themselves without the fame. They just want to travel on planes and not be recognized. But he didn’t fit into any of these categories.
After the flight landed and before we went our separate ways, I took a couple of photos of us together to show my wife.
It was a one-in-a-million chance that I’d switch seats with someone famous, and I was very happy and surprised to get to experience it.
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As empty nesters who work from home, my husband and I love shopping at Aldi.
The Elevation energy bars and Summit Popz prebiotic sodas are good substitutes for pricier brands.
I love snacking on the Simply Nature coconut clusters and Southern Grove trail mix.
As empty nesters who both work from home, my husband and I try our best to choose nutritious food options while keeping our grocery costs low.
Luckily, shopping at Aldi helps us achieve both of these goals. Here are some of our favorite products to buy.
My husband enjoys the peanut butter Elevation energy bars.
Elevation energy bars are a great afternoon pick-me-up. Amy Barnes
My husband recently stopped buying Clif Bars and replaced them with the more budget-friendly Elevation energy bars from Aldi.
These come out to just about $1 per bar, and he says the taste and texture are great.
He likes to enjoy them as a snack or an afternoon pick-me-up.
I love snacking on the Simply Nature coconut clusters.
The Simply Nature coconut clusters are made with pumpkin, sunflower, and hemp seeds. Amy Barnes
The Simply Nature coconut clusters satisfy my sweet tooth, with only 160 calories per serving.
These crunchy clusters are made with a mix of pumpkin, sunflower, and hemp seeds.
Southern Grove trail mix is great for when I’m hiking.
This Southern Grove trail mix is made with cranberries, sunflower kernels, almonds, edamame, chocolate, and peanuts. Amy Barnes
Whenever I head to Aldi, I like to grab snack-size portions of trail mix. I especially love the Southern Grove version because it doesn’t include raisins.
Packed with cranberries, sunflower kernels, almonds, edamame, chocolate, and peanuts, this mix is easy to snack on at home or when we’re hiking with our dog.
I prefer Aldi’s egg bites to the Starbucks version.
The Whole & Simple egg bites are easy to heat up in the morning. Amy Barnes
I’m always hunting for delicious protein options to start my day, and I often find myself craving the egg bites from Starbucks. However, my wallet doesn’t love them as much as I do.
So, I’ve switched to Aldi’s Whole & Simple version, made with bell peppers, uncured ham, and cheddar. I think they taste similar to the Starbucks version and they’re easy to heat up at home.
We love the Happy Farms spreadable cheese wedges.
There are lots of different varieties of Happy Farms spreadable cheese. Amy Barnes
Since we both work from home, my husband and I are always looking for quick lunch options. We like the Happy Farms spreadable cheese wedges, which cost less than $3 each, and taste great on their own or in wraps.
Simply Nature popcorn is great for movie night.
Each cup of Simply Nature sea-salt popcorn contains 35 calories. Amy Barnes
At only 35 calories per cup, I like to have Simply Nature popcorn with my lunch or as a movie-watching snack when the kids come back home. It’s also a good source of fiber and is gluten-free.
Aldi’s steamed vegetable medleys make dinner easy.
I love the Season’s Choice Asian-seasoned vegetable medley. Amy Barnes
Whenever I take a trip to Aldi, I look for the Season’s Choice steamed vegetable medleys. These bags of brightly-colored veggies are reasonably priced and easy to make.
I like to season my veggies with Burman’s stir-fry sauces.
Burman’s stir-fry sauces are a great way to add flavor to steamed vegetables. Amy Barnes
Instead of ordering take-out, I like to season my steamed vegetables with Burman’s orange or sweet and sour sauces. I just add some chicken to create an easy stir-fry meal.
Aldi sells a great substitute for brand-name probiotic sodas.
I love the Summit Popz prebiotic sodas. Amy Barnes
Staying hydrated while working from home is a necessity, and I love sipping on the Summit Popz prebiotic sodas. I think they’re a great alternative to the more expensive Poppi sodas.
Hannah Donovan is four months pregnant. And with two little ones already at home, she and her husband had been banking on one family trip before life got even more hectic.
Puerto Vallarta was meant to be a babymoon — a chance to meet up with family nearby, soak up the sun, and actually relax for a few days.
However, less than 24 hours before they were set to head to their airport in Idaho, videos and pictures of burning cars and billowing smoke began circulating on social media.
Donovan said the images she saw online followed reports that Mexican forces carried out an operation on Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, that killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The incident sparked retaliatory violence across multiple cities in Mexico, including in Puerto Vallarta.
The Donovans have since canceled their trip to Mexico and will play it by ear on whether they’ll try to visit Puerto Vallarta later.
“We’re incredibly grateful we’re not there, but we’re worried about the people who are, including travelers and our family who live there,” Donovan, 28, told Business Insider. “We’re definitely a little traumatized by the situation.”
Americans are rethinking their travel plans to Puerto Vallarta
The Donovans are among many Americans rethinking trips, moves, and stays in the region after chaos flared across parts of Mexico following the killing of Oseguera Cervantes on Sunday. Four people at the scene were killed, according to authorities. Three others — including Oseguera Cervantes — were wounded and later died, and two people were arrested. Three members of the armed forces were also wounded.
It comes after President Donald Trump designated the cartel a foreign terrorist organization. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US provided intelligence support for the operation, but stopped short of offering details on how. The administration has prioritized cracking down on Latin American cartels, urging leaders to take a harder line and deploying military force against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
In the hours since, the US and Canadian governments have urged citizens in some areas to shelter in place, and said most domestic and international flights in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta were grounded. On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for calm in the country, but many of those flights remained canceled.
Smoke over the city of Puerto Vallarta.
@morelifediares via Instagram/Youtube/@morelifediares via REUTERS
Mexico has become increasingly popular with American tourists, drawn by its vibrant nightlife, strong culinary scene, and affordability compared to other trendy international destinations such as France and Japan.
“Americans, especially on the West Coast, have long used it as an inexpensive place to go on vacation,” Robin Ingle, a specialist in travel security, told Business Insider.
Mexico has also seen a surge in tourism from people who previously would have traveled to the US but are avoiding the country for various political or financial reasons, he said.
“A lot of the people I’ve spoken to over the weekend would have gone to places like Florida, California, Arizona — now they’re going to Mexico instead,” he said of the tourists he’s spoken to since cartel violence broke out.
But as unrest spreads, some Americans who had planned to vacation or relocate there, or who are already in Mexico, are watching those plans unravel.
Business Insider spoke with three of them about what comes next.
Doug Howell will return to the US if things get worse
Doug Howell, a retired sales and distribution executive from the Spokane, Washington area, bought a rental place in Puerto Vallarta and now spends roughly six months a year there — a routine he’s kept up for the past 20 years.
“It’s very vibrant,” Howell, 63, told Business Insider. “I like to walk around the neighborhoods, everything is pretty close, or a short bus ride away if you want to check out the beaches or the waterfalls. There’s always something to do, and the food is incredible.”
Doug Howell and his daughters.
Courtesy of Doug Howell
On Sunday, Howell said he was standing on his balcony when he started hearing explosions, then saw plumes of smoke rising nearby. Before long, he said, he noticed highways and roads in and out of the area had been blocked off.
He was scared at first, he said, and hunkered down with neighbors.”We just stayed inside all day yesterday, and I didn’t go anywhere,” he recalled. “They actually bombed a store on a corner and a car on the bridge that’s not even a quarter of a mile away.”
By Monday, Howell, a member of MedJetHorizon — a global air medical transport and security response membership that provides evacuations— said things had calmed down in his neighborhood.
“They’re already on it today, and people are supporting each other in the community — that’s what I like about it,” he said. “One question everybody asks me: Is it safe? And it’s like, yeah, it is, unless you go to the wrong place at the wrong time. And that’s anywhere in the world.”
For now, Howell plans to stay in Mexico, but if things worsen, he said he plans to return to the States.
Linda Armijo worries about the future of the city
Linda Armijo and her husband have been visiting Puerto Vallarta for the past 25 years.
In January, they returned for a three-month stay in the city’s Marina Vallarta district, an upscale, waterfront area in northern Puerto Vallarta.
Armijo said that on Sunday, after her husband’s massage therapist warned that roads downtown were blocked, she went up to the rooftop terrace of their condo, which overlooks the city. From there, she said she could see five or six plumes of smoke.
Linda Armijo and her husband have been spending time in Puerto Vallarta for 25 years.
Courtesy of Linda Armijo
Smoke isn’t entirely unusual in Puerto Vallarta — controlled burns are common — but Armijo said this was more than she typically sees. “I came down to our condo and told Anthony, ‘There’s something going on, there are fires everywhere,'” she recalled.
Armijo said the city was hit by a series of disruptions, including the blast of an engine as a car was set on fire, interruptions to water service, and highways and roads blocked off. Although the uncertainty has left tourists and locals scrambling, they’re relying on each other to get by.
“I met two girls from LA who are renting a condo upstairs. They were meant to fly out yesterday, and threw away all their food and supplies before learning their flight was canceled. I shared some water with them,” Armijo said. She added that a building worker told her they were also accommodating those who needed to extend their stay.
Tourists watching fires in Puerto Vallarta.
Stringer/REUTERS
Armijo plans to stay put for now and said she isn’t especially worried about her safety. Instead, she’s thinking about what this could mean for the city.
“I feel safe in my building, and we have plenty of food and water,” the Spanish-speaker said. “It’s a minor inconvenience not being able to leave, but my biggest emotions are sadness and concern for the people of Puerto Vallarta.”
Long-term impact
In the near term, Ingle, the travel security specialist, said he expects to see an impact on the tourism scene.
“I know there’s going to be a blowback in the next month, people deciding not to go, because there’s a percentage of the population that doesn’t want to take risks,” he said. “Governments are putting out warnings, and that affects travel insurance.”
When it comes to the long-term impact, however, Ingle doesn’t see this weekend’s violence creating a lasting stain on Puerto Vallarta’s ability to attract tourists.
“If all the violence dies down quickly and gets cleaned up, I think this will go away,” Ingle said. “Normally, this will take a couple days, and then it will fix itself.”
On a recent trip to France, Dr. Meghan Garcia-Webb was struck by an age-old paradox.
Everywhere she looked, she saw people enjoying cheese, wine, and bread — yet the average person seemed much healthier than the typical American.
In France, despite their reputation for rich cuisine, the obesity rate is a fraction of what we see in the United States, for all our calorie-counting and protein maxxing.
“There isn’t this pervasive diet culture of going to a restaurant and seeing how many calories are in this and how many carbs,” Garcia-Webb told Business Insider. “I do find it is refreshing in the sense that there’s not this fear around food, and the food is very satisfying.”
It’s just one example of how stressing less about your diet can lead to better weight loss and long-term health, she said.
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In her concierge medicine practice, Garcia-Webb specializes in helping high achievers, such as CEOs and attorneys, manage their weight. A lot of her job is pushing back on extreme diet fads, including the trend of tracking everything.
“I really enjoy food and the more I do this work, the more compelled I feel to show people that it actually is possible to be healthy and really like to eat,” she said.
Garcia-Webb said her favorite food hack makes it easy to eat well without turning your food journal into a full-time job. Here’s how to try it at home for more nutritious meals.
A stress-free guide to healthy eating
Everyone loves a food hack, and Garcia-Webb said hers is simple: when you prepare a meal, start by making half the plate fruits and non-starchy vegetables.
Filling half your plate with produce is a simple way to eat well without measuring each bite, calorie, or gram of protein.
Magda Tymczyj/Getty Images
“It’s actually very easy,” she said. “You don’t even have to cook them if you don’t want to.”
Think carrots, cucumbers, peppers, greens, tomatoes, berries, grapes, citrus — anything you’d find in the produce aisle (except potatoes). To make it even easier, opt for pre-cut options that are ready to eat or frozen produce, which is as healthy as fresh.
From there, Garcia-Webb builds a full meal by adding a source of protein, like lean meats or fish, to fill another quarter of the plate. The last quarter of the plate is for starchy foods like whole grains, pasta, rice, or potatoes.
The strategy makes it simple to get five servings a day of fruits and veggies. Each serving is about a handful when you’re eyeballing it.
As you fill up on produce, the high-volume, high-fiber food keeps you full and satisfied after eating, so you’re less likely to reach for junk food later. That means you’ll find yourself eating healthier without having to count a single calorie or even measure a portion.
When to track your food for weight loss
There’s nothing inherently wrong with tracking your eating habits, and calculating every gram of protein is fine if that works for you.
Still, for most people, too much tracking can be a burden, taking away the enjoyment of food and making you less likely to stick to your healthy habits long-term.
Instead of trying to track everything you eat forever, Garcia-Webb recommends keeping a food log for a few days: it can give you a baseline sense of your current habits and what you can change to move toward your goals.
“You build this intuitive knowledge, and then you have a rough sense of what it looks like for you,” she said.
A temporary habit of food tracking can be helpful if you feel like you’re doing everything right and wonder why you aren’t losing weight.
Food labels can mislead you by making a processed snack seem healthy because of added protein, but sneaking in extra sugars.
Luke Chan/Getty Images
Garcia-Webb said if you’ve never tracked your habits, it’s common to eat more and exercise less than you realize.
These days, plenty of convenience foods disguise ultra-processed junk with a “health halo” of added protein or other nutrients to make you believe you’re making a nutritious choice.
“People think that they’re eating healthier than they are,” Garcia-Webb said. “Something that we can all fall prey to is very good marketing.”
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I tried the signature burgers from three fast-food chains: McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King.
I thought McDonald’s Big Mac was underwhelming and needed more sauce.
I liked the smoky flavor of Burger King’s Whopper, even though it was the priciest burger.
As a food reporter, I’ve tried and tested many burgers over the years.
But for my latest taste test, I decided to go back to basics.
While I’ve compared the biggest burgers at fast-food chains and practically every fast-food double cheeseburger, I wanted to see if the signature burgers from three of America’s most beloved chains really are classics.
I tried the McDonald’s Big Mac, the Wendy’s Dave’s Single, and the Burger King Whopper to determine which is best in terms of taste and value.
My least favorite of the signature burgers I tried was McDonald’s Big Mac.
The McDonald’s Big Mac was released in 1968. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Arguably the most iconic fast-food burger, the Big Mac is a staple on McDonald’s menu. Created by owner and operator Jim Delligatti of Pittsburgh in 1967, the first “Big Mac” featured a triple-decker burger and sold for 45 cents, according to McDonald’s.
The burger rolled out across the US in 1968 and quickly became the chain’s signature burger.
Today, an estimated 900 million Big Macs are sold each year around the world.
A Big Mac comes with two 1.6-ounce beef patties, pickles, shredded lettuce, chopped onions, a slice of American cheese, and layers of Big Mac sauce on a sesame-seed bun.
The burger came topped with lettuce, pickles, and Big Mac sauce. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The Big Mac cost me $8.29, excluding tax, at my local McDonald’s in Brooklyn, New York.
Right away, I wasn’t obsessed with the flavors or texture of this burger.
The extra bun made the burger taste dry. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The burger I received was mostly lettuce, which covered up the flavors of the cheese, meat, and sauce. I wanted more of a tangy flavor from ketchup, mustard, or simply more Big Mac sauce.
My second-favorite burger was the Dave’s Single from Wendy’s.
Wendy’s Dave’s Single with cheese is considered its signature burger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Named after Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, Dave’s Single is Wendy’s signature burger. It is available in multiple sizes, from a single to a triple-stacked burger.
It features one of Wendy’s signature square patties and is the chain’s take on a classic cheeseburger.
The Dave’s Single burger comes with a quarter-pound beef patty, a slice of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mayo, and onions.
The burger came with classic toppings like cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The burger cost me $8.74, excluding tax, at my local Wendy’s in Brooklyn.
The burger was noticeably saucier than both the Whopper and the Big Mac.
The burger was much saucier than the Big Mac. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
It was practically dripping with sauces, which I didn’t necessarily mind. Some of the flavors were slightly covered up by the two condiments, but I thought the cheese was tangy and the onions cut through the sweeter elements of the burger.
There was also a generous serving of pickles and a large slice of tomato.
Overall, I thought this was a good, classic cheeseburger.
The burger checked a lot of boxes. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
However, if I had to change one thing, I might remove or ask for a half-serving of mayonnaise.
I thought it was an overall solid choice for a late-night snack.
My favorite burger was the Whopper with cheese from Burger King.
The Whopper has been around since 1957. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Burger King’s signature burger has been around for decades. Released in 1957, just four years after the chain opened, the Whopper was 37 cents compared to Burger King’s original burger, which cost 18 cents.
Whoppers — and all Burger King burgers, for that matter — are flame-grilled, giving their burgers a distinct smoky flavor.
You can order a Whopper with or without cheese.
The burger came without cheese, but I added it to my order. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
For the sake of this experiment, I decided to order a Whopper with cheese to ensure a fair comparison with the other signature burgers.
The Whopper cost me $9.17, excluding tax, at my local Burger King in Brooklyn.
A Whopper comes with a quarter-pound beef patty, pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mayonnaise on a sesame-seed bun.
The burger came with pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mayonnaise. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Right away, I could tell this burger was going to pack tons of flavor. Thick layers of ketchup and mayonnaise oozed out of the sides of the burger, while the bun was large and held the other ingredients together perfectly.
The flavorful burger was my favorite for both taste and texture.
This burger impressed me with its smoky flavor and size. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The lettuce, tomatoes, and onions all tasted very fresh, adding a delicious crunch to the burger.
The burger patties had a smoky, savory flavor that made the sandwich taste fresh off the grill. I also thought the patty’s shape, which was larger in circumference but flatter than some of the other burgers, made the sandwich easier to eat.
Overall, I think the burger was worth the higher price tag.
When comparing the three signature burgers, I found myself feeling like a fast-food-eating Goldilocks: One burger was too dry, one was too moist, and one was just right.
