Best Of CLE: Planted's Krabby Patty Burger

Are ya ready.... for this Lakewood restaurant's faux crab sandwich that makes you feel like you're in a pineapple under the sea.

by Kate Bigam Kaput | Sep. 28, 2021 | 11:00 AM

Elisa Valensky

Elisa Valensky

Plenty of dishes are dif- ficult to recreate with a vegan lens, but perhaps chief among them is crab cakes, with its thick, fibrous texture and its uniquely briny flavor. But at Planted, a sustainable scratch kitchen in Lake- wood, co-owner Erica Carlberg has cracked the code without cracking any actual crabs. Planted’s Krabby Patty burger ($10), named for the faux crabmeat, features hand-shredded hearts of palm instead of seafood.

When mixed with chickpeas, oats and spices — including the incomparable Old Bay — the tender, crunchy vegetable closely replicates the distinctive texture of crabmeat. It’s served with herbed garlic aioli, pickled cucumbers, confit tomatoes, and fresh kale on a chia and flaxseed bun.

Whether you’re a committed clean eater or just looking for a darn good lunch, Carlberg says the Krabby Patty is a popular choice. “It really comes down to the flavor and the texture all working together,” Carlberg says. planted.restaurant 

Get the Latest in Your Inbox

Whether you're looking for daily news bites, the latest bites or bite-sized adventures, the Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter experiences have something for everyone.