Roam Burgers, a vibrant burger chain founded in 2010, opened its sixth location in Corte Madera August 31. While Marin County has many options for burgers, Roam sets itself apart by supporting farmers who use sustainable practices.
The first Roam burger shop opened June of 2010 on Union Street in San Francisco. The Corte Madera installation, conveniently located in Town Center, is open 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends and 11a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays.
A warm and welcoming open-plan layout accompanies the restaurant. Natural light flushes the interior of Roam, and indoor plants hang from shelves, giving the environment a radiant feel. Seating options include booths, tables with cushioned seats, and a spacious outdoor area filled with planter boxes.
The interior of the restaurant mixes casual and chic decor. The walls are a creme-colored plaster, and the lighting is warm and inviting. The pastel-green appliances create a fun ’70s accent, while wood arches and auburn-colored tiles craft a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
Roam also offers coloring pages to families with young children, providing entertainment and a family-friendly environment.
Payment options at Roam include Apple Pay, credit card, and cash. The challenging part about dining at Roam is reaching the register, as they only take dine-in orders from one station, creating a long line out the door on the weekends that can take up to 30 minutes.
Finding a table also can be difficult due to the lack of a system for seating customers. During the span of 30 minutes, five different customers complained to the manager about how long their food took to be served. Customers should visit on weekdays to avoid the rush.
Roam offers an elaborate menu filled with a variety of burger options, ranging from the basics to burgers with extravagant toppings. The restaurant has mastered their “Original” burger topped with butter lettuce, tomatoes, onions, housemade pickles, and house sauce, with a perfect-sized burger patty and a toasty bun covered in sesame seeds, retailing for 12.50 dollars.
Sticking to the basics at Roam is the best bet, as the “French N’ Fries” burger tried to approach too many food categories. The burger is topped with truffle parmesan fries, and Brie, both flavor profiles being lost in the chaotic burger. For 15.50 dollars, it’s not worth it.
The chicken tenders with an offering of sauce are a great option for children but mediocre at best, given they retail for 11.00 dollars. The battered and fried tenders leave out the delicious, crispy breading that tenders should have. The flavor of the tender resembles a spicy pre-prepared taco seasoning packet you can find at your nearest grocery store. The ranch, though thick and creamy, lack seasoning; the only flavors that burst through are sour cream and dill.
Roam offers ice cream made by Straus Family Creamery, which has a very thick, sweet, and yummy consistency. They offer either chocolate or vanilla, with a wide selection of toppings including a seasonal fruit puree. The vanilla ice cream with a scoop of house-made raspberry puree, is satisfying but could have included a larger amount of puree for 7.50 dollars.
Roam offers high-quality food in a unique, welcoming environment. If you have the time to wait and the money to spend, the restaurant provides delicious burgers and a lovely atmosphere to enjoy a meal with family and friends. Roam earns a rating of four out of five feathers. Roam also offers fun and unique seasonal specials so stay on the lookout for the fall assortment on the menu, which will release soon.
