Elevation Burger

I went to Elevation Burger on Friday night (1÷1÷16) and had a truly great experience there. The food was very good, but the service was absolutely incredible. Every person working there had a great attitude and made sure that our meal was exactly as ordered. They treated us so well that I actually walked out smiling. I will definitely be returning, and I would recommend Elevation Burger to anyone looking for a quick meal in Portland.

They have lettuce — big, crispy, fresh iceberg lettuce — available as a wrap! Tell them if you need gluten free and they will do it seriously. New gloves, no cross contamination of food! Spectacular. I ate there and did not get «glutened»! Even the fries are cut right there from real potatoes and fries gluten free!
And the grass fed beef was the taste I remember from childhood. No condiments and it was still so flavorful. Of course they have condiments if you want them!
A bit pricy, but they are double burgers with REAL cheese, not cheese food.
I WILL be returning!

Besides sitting on the second floor, I wasn’t «elevated».
Ordered an Elevation Burger with aged cheddar, raw onions, ketchup and mustard. Also Fancy Fries with melted aged cheddar and Elevation Sauce on top.
The burger was ok, but I wasn’t satisfied. The meat is fresh but doesn’t taste much better than what I can get from my local grocer. What was disappointing was the thickness of the patties, which was pretty thin. About what you would expect in a quarter pounder from McDonalds. It was juicy but other craft burger joints would have bigger patties. The bun is thin and inadequate. The aged cheddar is good though.
Fries are good, cooked in olive oil with salt. You get lots of them and I had cheese and Elevation sauce on top, which is just Thousand Island Dressing.
This location does have an upstairs with an ok view. They have a Coke dispenser with touchscreen so you can mix any flavor you like. I’m disappointed that there isn’t a ketchup dispenser and no malt vinegar. They do offer white vinegar but it isn’t labeled and no dipping cups. They do have some good sounding options for hand-​scooped ice cream treats but I didn’t get any.
All in all this place is nothing special. I wouldn’t go out of my way to go to this chain again. Five Guys gives you a better burger and fries for less money.

They advertised a lobster burger on a big sign out front. This thing was a combination lobster roll and burger. To be blunt, it was nasty mostly due to the old lobster they were using in the sandwich. Come on, this is Maine people! It tasted bad, like old fish bad, and left an aftertaste that a pack of spearmint gum couldn’t cure. The fries were good but a little soggy for my taste. Does anyone really like soggy fries? Lastly I have to say the person taking the order was definitely not looking like he was enjoying his job. Oh well. Not coming here again.

Amazing burgers. Amazing fries. Big fan of places that display the calories of each item.
My gf and I wanted to go here. We ended up going to this location Bc we weren’t hungry enough to eat at the one close to the airport.
I got a mushroom and swiss burger and it was so tasty. Idk if it was the best burger I’ve ever had such was their claim underneath their order sign, but its up there. I’m definitely a fan. Great first meal in ME.

I love this place. Their organic, grass-​fed, free-​range beef and chicken are both wonderful. I opt for the chicken more than the beef and I love all their toppings, especially the unprocessed cheddar and organic bacon, which is always crispy. The outdoor seating on the roof is really nice and their staff is always super friendly and attentive. Their shakes are also delicious. My only wish is that everything was organic, not just the protein.

Burger and a malt came put to 13.94, which seemed a little steep for how big the burger was– but it was good! The weird thing was the décor and service. It was totally obvious that the chain headquarters had specific rules for how the place had to look (giant posters talking about what responsible capitalists they are) and for how they were supposed to be with customers– I was called sir so much it was creepy. Staff should be able to be themselves. I would feel way better about coming here.

Best burger I’ve ever had and I’m from NY and eaten at a lot of burger places. The service is great, staff very friendly and we sat outside which was very nice. So delicious. Love that everything is fried in olive oil. Highly recommend!

I’ve had Elevation Burger plenty times before but I have to say we decided to stop in for a bite 15 mins before this location closed. While the young lady at the desk was super nice, the cooks were obviously ready to leave because our burgers were served without the cheese melted and the bacon my husband ordered and paid extra for was nowhere to be found.
All in all, it was a subpar experience and attention to detail is SUPER important especially when it comes to food. This experience won’t ruin my impression of Elevation Burger, but if this is your first time attending one, please try another location before ruling them completely out.

With clever/​cute names such as the Katahdin Burger (burger w/​up to 10 patties!) & Fancy Fries, I was excited to introduce the boyfriend to what I’d call the In-​N-​Out of the East. By the end of the meal, he accurately summed it up with «a burger’s a burger, how can it go wrong?».
Our order included:
The classic Elevation Burger — two organic, grass-​fed, free-​range beef patties on a bun with our choice of free toppings (we chose the Elevation sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, caramelized onions, dill pickles, and cheddar cheese) and cheddar cheese which was an additional 0.60 (I think?).
Fancy Fries — classic fries topped with two slices of cheddar. Additional toppings are included in the price.
Our food was okay, it seemed to take forever for orders to come out in a fairly empty restaurant. I thoroughly enjoyed the oily/​salty crunch of the fries, but the cheese that remained glued to a few scrawny pieces on top was a tad disappointing. The burger was alright, I thought it was surprisingly cool/​room temp for a burger that should’ve been hot. Upon looking online, I was surprised to find that Elevation Burger isn’t really a local joint! They have locations all over the East Coast, as well as in Mexico & the Middle East. Who would’ve thought?! While it’s cute that this particular location personalized some items such as the ‘Fancy Fries’ and the ‘Katahdin’, I was surprised to NOT see these items online and on the online order form. Cheddar also doesn’t cost more if ordered online!!! That last one really killed me. Anyways, come here for some solid (but oily) fries and while I haven’t tried them myself, they seem to be quite proud of their options for vegetarians.

Good freshly ground burger nest cooked all nice and juicy with fresh toppings. I had single and his stand had mushroom Swiss double with horseradish sauce. Very good. Fries looked great.

My friend and I had just finished the GORUCK event and were famished. After walking around the Old Port a while, we came across Elevation Burger. I had never tried Elevation before, nor had my friend Ian, so we went in. Service was fast, seating was cafeteria style. While the fries were so-​so, the burgers were amazing. We like 5-​Guys, however, Elevation is in my opinion far superior. We thought perhaps this was a fluke, as we have friends that do not care for Elevation Burger. A recent visit to the Augusta, Maine Elevation Burger put this to rest, The food was also outstanding. If you were a kid in the 1960’s, try the Chocolate Malted!

+1 = easy location in the heart of old port
+1 = quick service; great for a fast bite to eat
+1 = I liked the food (veggie burger, vanilla-​banana shake, fries)
+1 = outdoor seating, with room for our bikes

Good food and nice staff and service.
The patties were very tasty and the location is wonderful!

Think of this as «fancy» fast food. The service at both locations is always great from my experience, everyone always seems super patient when you’re trying to narrow down their huge toppings menu.
The burgers themselves are delicious, I get mine fully loaded with toppings so I love all the flavors with the grass-​fed beef and their elevation sauce, cheese, jalapenos, etc. The fries are also really good and you get an enormous amount.
Only gripe? It’s sooo expensive for what it is, coming here is really a once in a while treat for us when you end up spending $ 26 for two people on a fast food joint.
I definitely recommend grabbing an Elevation Burger if you’ve never had one! Just don’t be surprised when they ring you up.

Not so elevating for your taste buds or wallet.
Local Über driver told me about this place having grass fed burgers and I would give it a shot for take out instead of Five Guys since it’s everywhere and I’ve had it before.
I thought my BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger was great but the high school kid skipped on my jalapeños. CMON! Also I finished this in a few bites too.
As for fries, you should share cause there’s a lot and also it’s thin. Careful cause they might over fry it too.
Lastly if you’re really hungry I’d go to Five Guys since it’s more filling but this place was worth a try… if you’re coming back from weekend shennanegans.

I really wanted to give this place a better rating.
Like other Unilocalers I was lured in by promises of grass fed beef goodness but what I got in return was grass fed meh and a expensive check. It’s true, the ingredients and approach seem thoughtful but the food just lacked flavor and for the price point you’ll probably be happier at 5 Guys.
After living in Los Angeles for years I had grown accustom to the deliciousness of animal style burger and fries at In and Out (so my standards are high.) So when I ordered Elevation’s cheese fries and got just a slice of not so flavorful cheese on top I sort of felt let down.
That being said, I did enjoy the cherry shake made with chocolate ice cream. I’m not a hater, I’d just like to see Elevation Burger readjust their recipes to satisfy the discernible palates of Portland, Maine.

It’s quick, it’s organic, grass-​fed, free-​range and fairly priced. Those are the pros. The flavor of the basic burger, however, is lacking. Tastes too lean, but is somehow still a bit greasy. Reminds me of the texture of a McDonald’s burger… hate to say that too. The fries were fresh and tasty. It’s a quick bite for the kids before you take them to one of the upscale places around the corner so they won’t complain of fancy fish. Lol…
It was about $ 13ish for 2 kids burgers and fries. Not bad, not great. Wish the flavor was more enjoyable. Bummer.

I am a fan of 100% organic, grass-​fed, free-​range meats, and I wholly support the movement, even at the higher price. The problem is that I am more interested in a tasty, reasonably-​priced burger than I am any of those things, which is why I’m not a fan of Elevation Burger.
I gave Elevation a shot one Friday evening in October. The place was empty when I was walking by, and so I thought I could pop in and get a quick bite to eat.
I was a bit overwhelmed with the ordering experience; there are like a thousand possible different combinations of burgers, condiments, sides, and desserts! After staring at the menu for five minutes, trying to decipher a combination that would be both satisfying and give me a sample of what this restaurant was all about, I finally caved and asked the cashier for his recommendation. He recommended the Elevation burger (duh?). I wasn’t necessarily on board for two beef patties (overkill?), but I went along with it anyway. I still had to choose my toppings, and I had a running calculator in my brain as I was tallying the costs of the cheese, condiments, fries and fountain drink. I actually had to scale my order back a bit to get under $ 15, and I don’t feel like I was being unreasonable.
Bacon (which I had to cut out) is never unreasonable.
My total for what essentially was a combo meal at any other fast food place ended up being a pricey $ 13.50, and I took a seat by the window and waited for my meal to appear. 15 minutes later — yes, 15 minutes later — the server brought it over. I can appreciate food made to order, but 15 minutes is a little long for a place that wears the guise of a fast (ish) food restaurant.
And how were the burger and fries? Meh. The burger was well prepared, but on taste alone, I’ve had much better. The fries were actually excellent — my favorite part of the meal.
My major concerns:
— Confusing menu, with nickel-​and-​dime pricing. On some level I appreciate being able to customize, but PLEASE come up with some combo meals — I have plenty of things I need to think about in any given day, and the 20 different combinations for my burger should not be one of them. Bring a calculator, folks.
— $ 13.50 for a burger with fries and soft drink? A little pricey, especially with so much competition in Portland (Five Guys, B Good, EVERY pub in town, etc) that will offer the same thing (sans the organic part) for 30% less.
— Longish wait for a burger. Five Guys also makes burgers to order, an the wait time is half as long.
If you are a die-​hard fan of free-​range, grass-​fed, 100% organic food movement — regardless of pricing — then this is your place. If you are a member of the 95% who just like a good burger at a good price, then try elsewhere.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t overly excited for Elevation Burger to open on Commercial Street downtown, where Mim’s and then Farmer’s Table used to reside. «A chain burger joint in such a prime location? And just a block from Five Guys and B. Good?» It seemed pointless and I didn’t know what Elevation would do better.
Now I know. Elevation Burger has two decks capable of seating over 60 people combined. The lower deck outside is certainly the best people watching in all of Portland. And upstairs is one of the only outdoor rooftop decks. It even has a (limited) water view. There is no where else with substantial outdoor seating downtown to eat for less than $ 10 a person.
Elevation basically just serves burgers and veggie burgers, but they’re really good. The burger tonight was better than I remember from the South Portland location. Grass fed, juicy beef in a bun that actually held up, loaded with fresh organic toppings. It was simply delicious. The fries are thin and a little limp. I like them, but those who prefer thicker cut will be disappointed. Even for an avid meat eater, the veggie burgers (especially #2) are bursting with flavor. I’ve heard from vegetarians that they are the best around. There is also ice cream and milk shakes and a fancy soda machine with hundreds of flavors.
Elevation will be a great addition to Portland with its ample outdoor seating, great views and very solid food. For now at least, there is no alcohol, but it will be open until 2 am on weekends for the bar crowd. B. good serves beer/​wine and has chicken. So of the burger chains, it’s now Five Guys that seems to be the odd one out. Elevation is highly recommended.