Business & Tech

FrickleBurgers Brings European Flair To American Classics

The new burger joint – an addition to the 'fast fresh market' -- opens next weekend at Westfield Palm Desert.

Michael Zoll will celebrate much more than the grand opening of his restaurant – FrickleBurgers -- on June 25 at the mall. He’ll usher in a new stage in his life.

“This is my first time out on my own,’’ said Zoll, who has worked in the restaurant business for over 25 years, including stints at Starbucks, Koo Koo Roo/Fuddruckers and Chipotle.

At the 10 a.m. Saturday, June 25 opening, Frickleburgers will give his first 100 customers a choice of a free burger, bratwurst or frankfurter.

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The son of a German immigrant, Zoll is seeking to provide a twist on the American classics by introducing European-style meats and breads.

“Recently when traveling in Germany I was amazed at even the simplest sandwich shops how fresh the bread and good the meats were,” Zoll said. “I wanted to bring together that European aspect, the American burger joint, and that new level of the fast fresh market, serving only the best ingredients and made fresh to order.”

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Located in the heart of the mall's food court, FrickleBurgers – which makes the food fresh to order -- will give customers a choice of nine core items that can be personalized in an innumerable amount of ways on a paper checklist. The average price is about $10 a person.

Patrons can choose from a FrickleBurger, a chicken schnitzel sandwich, a bratwurst, an all-beef frankfurter, a grilled chicken breast sandwich, a salad bowl, a fry bowl, a stuffed baked potato and a portobello burger.

Each choice can be dressed with more than 35 toppings. Some of those toppings – mainly the vegetables – will be purchased locally.

The beef and chicken will be naturally raised and hormone free, Zoll said, adding that the bread will be made by Thousand Palms-based Bosch Baking.

He’s also striving to be environmentally friendly by providing silverware made of cornstarch and recycled to-go boxes.

According to Zoll, the name FrickleBurgers derives from Zoll’s family name for a German beef patty called “Frickadellen.”

And Zoll’s new eatery is all about his family, almost a love letter of sorts, with some of the more creative menu items named after family members. “The Big Kenny” -- a Frickleburger topped with sliced bratwurst and smothered with sautéed onions, sauerkraut, chopped bacon and bleu cheese -- is named after his brother Ken, who lives in Chicago with their father Karl.

His mother, Roberta, died last year, prompting Zoll to consider creating his own restaurant.

“I have big dreams to go out through Southern California,’’ he said, adding that he began his search in Palm Springs, but decided to open up shop in Palm Desert instead.

"I think she was looking over me, saying 'don't take that second floor space' (in Palm Springs),'' Zoll said.

He also pays homage to his European heritage in the restaurant with photos of his family on the walls.

“It gives it a homey feeling. I think people will see there is a heart behind this company,’’ Zoll said.


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