Unfortunately, my experience at Betty’s Burgers in Toowoomba was deeply disappointing and frustrating, particularly as a long-time vegan who is careful about dietary choices.
When placing our order, we requested the vegan puff rice patty on a vegan roll. We also asked whether vegan cheese and vegan mayo were available, but the staff member assisting us confidently stated that they were not. We clarified our vegan preferences multiple times during the ordering process. Eventually, we opted for the patty with just tomato sauce due to the lack of vegan condiments.
When the burger arrived, I ate half of it, assuming it was the vegan puff rice patty. I even remarked on how impressive it was, thinking it must be a particularly realistic plant-based option. However, my friend, who had dined at Betty’s before, questioned it. Upon confirming with the kitchen staff, I discovered to my horror that I had been served a classic beef patty instead of the vegan option I had ordered.
As someone who has been vegan for 30 years, this was incredibly distressing. I immediately brought it to the attention of the front counter staff, only to be met with an explanation that they thought I “just wanted the gluten-free vegan roll,” completely ignoring my explicit request for a vegan patty and condiments. This demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of dietary requirements and an inability to properly process or double-check orders.
What makes this worse is that other establishments, typically review the order with the customer to ensure everything is correct. Betty’s Burgers failed at every step, from taking the order to serving the correct item.
I cannot recommend Betty’s Burgers to anyone with specific dietary preferences or allergies. This experience highlights a lack of care, competence, and accountability, which could have serious implications for those with dietary restrictions or food intolerances.