Napa burger. Photo by Mark Davis

Look around any corner in Preston Hollow, and you’ll find some type of burger joint. Mariel Street set out to do something different.

“It’s kind of reinventing the burger,” she says.

Her new venture, Liberty Burger, offers variations on the staple not found anywhere else in Dallas. The “amore” burger comes piled with baby spinach, cantaloupe and a crisp layer of Parmesan cheese. It’s the most adventurous item on the menu, and not enough people order it, Street says. “It’s the perfect blend of salty and sweet.”

Besides great taste, there’s a lot of heart behind Liberty. Street began working on the concept after serving two years in the Peace Corps. She applied the principles of social responsibility to her business. The all-natural beef comes from a Dallas purveyor, vegetables are grown in Texas whenever possible, and buns are baked fresh every morning. Almost everything in the restaurant has been recycled — from the paper napkins to the wooden beams.

Street, daughter of Dallas restaurateur Gene Street, has been working in the industry since age 14. Her father tried to talk her out of opening her own place.

“I would rather work 365 days out of the year than be bored for one year.”

Liberty Burger
5211 Forest
972.239.2100

Price range: $6.50-$9.50
Ambiance: Clean
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon-Sat; closed Sun
Tip: You can make any burger a bison burger, which is 90 percent leaner than beef or chicken.

More spots for burgers

1 Elevation Burger
This Hillcrest Crossing establishment uses 100 percent grass-fed, free-range beef with USDA-certified organic ingredients for a healthier version of your typical, greasy burger. 8611 Hillcrest, Suite 195, 214.360.0088

2 Gazebo Burgers
Neighbors will testify that this burger spot easily beats out any of the over-hyped chains. Plus, they do a great veggie burger for the herbivores out there. 5950 Royal, 214.368.3344

3 Chip’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers
For a traditional, no-frills burger, 30-year-old Chip’s doesn’t disappoint. The restaurant also offers gluten-free buns. 4530 Lovers, 214.691.2447

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