GreenGo Food: "fast food with a conscience" in Ballard

GreenGo Food, which opened in February in a tiny building in Ballard, combines two trends: farmers-market purveyors establishing restaurants and the use of locally sourced ingredients.

Wife-and-husband team Heidi and Dylan Stockman — who regularly work the Lake City and Broadway farmers markets — offer "fast food with a conscience," with a menu emphasizing mostly local, organic food.

The menu: The options fall into two main categories: burgers ($6.50-$12, made from certified organic beef from Skagit River Ranch) and vegetarian options (such as polenta plates, a grilled cheese or bean burger, ranging from $4-$8). Some of the vegetarian plates can be made vegan. Egg sandwiches ($5-$6.50) and sides (including bacon at $1 a slice, or salads and potatoes for about $3) also are available. The price is reduced by 50 cents if you bring your own container. The menu changes depending on seasonal availability.

What to write home about: The Seasonal Burger ($9.50 with choice of a side dish) was a satisfying quarter-pound patty with cheese, seasonal relish and pickles. The texture of the patty was more like meatloaf. Dylan Stockman attributes that to using a KitchenAid mixer, which, he says, breaks the meat down more than mixing by hand. It doesn't have the mouthfeel one expects a burger to have, but it's gratifying in its own way. The seasonal relish on the burger — in this case, rhubarb with bacon — provided a nicely tart counterpoint to the beef, though the flavor could have been taken up a notch.

Less interesting but still fine was the Ultimate Polenta Meal ($8), though the polenta cake and black-bean cake both could've used more robust seasoning. The vegetables that came with it were oversalted.

The setting: Inside seating is a small counter with several stools placed very close together, and a small kids table in the corner. Outside, there's a bench with two tables in front, and a small patio with a few more tables and chairs in back.

Summing up: Two of us shared two entrees, a salad and two iced teas (refreshing and not too sweet) for $29.11, not including tip. It's a nice place to stop in for a quick, easy-on-your-conscience meal, especially during these summer days when you can sit outside, or take your to-go order to a nearby park.

Janet I. Tu: 206-464-2272 or jtu@seattletimes.com