By Victoria EspinozaSTAFF WRITER
Students have been waiting months for the new business on Hempstead Turnpike, where Bar Social once was, to reveal itself. BurgerFi opened last month, and introduced a better burger concept that focuses on all-natural ingredients, to the area.
BurgerFi is hoping to gain a strong following with Hofstra students, according to Charles Guzzetta, senior field marketing manager at the restaurant. BurgerFi plans to set up an event calendar and host trivia and karaoke nights, intending to create their own version of the popular wing night that students flocked to at Social.
“Taking out Social is going to be a loss for a lot the students and we’ve already heard many students be quite vocal about that but I think we have some fun ideas,” Guzzetta said.
The downstairs area of the restaurant has 60 additional seats, with several TV screens, a full craft beer bar and soon – three private study rooms.
“We’d love to host social gatherings for any type of club and organization on campus that’s having a meeting, dinner function or fundraiser,” Guzzetta said.
BurgerFi follows a “Never Never Program,” which assures that that are no steroids, antibiotics, growth hormones or chemicals used in any of their food, according to Guzzetta. BurgerFi is also committed to a healthier menu. According to Guzzetta, each restaurant the chain opens is as environmentally sustainable as possible. The chairs are made out of recycled Coca-Cola bottles, and the wooden tables are made out of compressed recycled wood. Their summer patio furniture is made out of up-cycled milk jugs. This particular BurgerFi location is also the first to utilize solar panels as an alternative energy resource.
The “BurgerFi cheeseburger” is one of the restaurant’s biggest selling items. It also offers a “Breakfast All Day Burger,” and “VegeFi Burger.”
“Our batter is very, very light, but still flavorful,” Guzzetta said, about the onion rings. The “Urban Style Cry and Fry” item on the menu features an onion ring and fry combination, tossed in parmesan and topped with herbs and garlic aioli.
Students have been making their way to the new restaurant in the past week, and time will tell if it becomes a Hofstra staple.
