Harriet’s Hamburgers Switches to Beef Tallow for Fries at Charlotte Sites

Harriet's Hamburgers is ditching seed oils. Beef tallow will take over at all Charlotte spots this month. Fries and cheese curds get the swap, bringing richer taste.

The switch debuts when the brand unveils its Commonwealth restaurant in Plaza Midwood in late January. Optimist Hall, where it all started, will make the change at the same time. Both kitchens will use the beef-based fat.

"We're not going to be changing our core menu. We're just refining what we have," said Joe Haubenhofer, co-owner, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.

Burgers, fries, sodas. That's it. The menu stays tight. Haubenhofer, Collin Ricks, and Chef Brian Stokholm run the show as co-owners of this chef-led burger spot.

Optimist Hall saw the first location pop up back in 2020. Commonwealth represents the next step for the Charlotte-based business.

"With the food we always wanted to be simple. That doesn't mean it's not complex or high quality. We always sought to go after the best ingredients we could get our hands on," Haubenbofer said.

Creekstone Farms supplies the beef. New School American provides the cheese, which strips out unnecessary additives and fillers.

Boylan Craft Sodas hit the drink menu. No high-fructose corn syrup in those bottles. Sauces get made in-house, and fresh herbs show up throughout.