Burger Review #6: Toma Burger Addiction

Photo by Mark Avila

Date visited: November 25, 2014
Location: Trinity-Bellwoods
BurgerTours Rating: 8.95/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Awesome	Messy	$11-$15	Restaurant	Veggie, Gluten Free Liquor

Website

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Drew's Review

The Old School/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Toma Burger Addiction started off just as a place Mark suggested we try. Before Mark had brought it up, I had never seen nor heard of its existence. I read some reviews and Googled its location and thought, this may be my new number one.

Toma Burger Addiction is not like any other burger joint in Toronto. It offers real genuine gourmet burgers with a French twist. I was not surprised at some of their prices on the menu for some of their burgers. Some of their crazy creations range from $15 - $20. But Toma Burger Addiction offers just not the quality of the burgers, but the accommodation and acceptance to its customers.

Toma Burger caught me by surprise. It's a small little shop on Queen Street West, just west of Bathurst and from the outside, it doesn't look like much. But once I walked inside, I was amazed at what I saw. It looked like a fancy restaurant on King Street, one that many business goers might attend. The interior has tables along one side and booths down the other. The walls are neatly decorated and on one wall has the word BURGERS in big letters to remind you why you came here in the first place. Also, to my fascination, playing on a small little television sitting directly across from our booth, was the film School of Rock. Because nothing screams "we want to make you feel right at home" than having cutlery on our table and Jack Black on the screen teaching kids how to play instruments in the background.

After going through the menu a couple of times, we settled on our choices. I ordered The Old School. It came equipped with a beef patty, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, double smoked bacon, BBQ sauce and pickles. The other burger I was considering was El Diablo and will have to order that next time I return.

After about a 15 minute wait, the waitress returns with our burgers in hand. At first glance, I said to myself, "Is this it?" The order came with a side of fries and a glass of your choice of drink. But the burger itself was a little on the small side. Sitting between two small brioche buns were my toppings with the burger I ordered. To be honest, it looked small right from when I first saw it, but I came to realize that big things come in small packages.

Within my first bite, I got a taste of the burger, the smoked bacon and the BBQ sauce. The combination of the three sets all burger lovers into a trance - a trance in which your taste buds are dancing on the roof of your tongue and do not want this moment to end. The bun was soft, branded with Toma's signature "T" on it and had every aspect of what a gourmet burger should be; the delicacy, the craftsmanship and the chef's signature branded right into it.

Overall, Toma Burger Addiction is a highly recommended burger joint and one you must try. From the selection of hand crafted burgers to the overall atmosphere of the restaurant, Toma Burger Addiction is the only addiction you need if you want a delicious gourmet burger.

8.9/10 

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Mark's Review

La Boheme/Photo by Mark Avila

Ooh la la~ this place was a pleasant surprise. The restaurant-like atmosphere with round booths, marble table tops, fine silverware and glasses, I never would’ve thought that I had walked into a burger joint. Well...the letters that spell BURGER across the wall might give it away. But still, Toma’s gourmet burgers takes it up a notch by incorporating ingredients; some that I’ve never even heard of that could be described as classy, with a French twist. And also, there are vegetarian options!

Walking inside, the first thing I saw was the burger menu in big black letters along the wall. If you find yourself waiting in line to get a table, take the opportunity to read through the menu on the wall so you’ll be ready to order when you’re seated. Since the restaurant was empty when we arrived just after lunch, we were immediately seated and served. Looking through the menu, I was happy to see a big selection of burgers from the classic cheeseburger to a mouth watering Kobe beef, foie gras pan fried burger: The Double Jackpot ($24.99). I would recommend visiting Toma on an empty stomach, and, with a thick wallet.

I ordered the La Boheme; a beef patty with blue and Swiss cheese, homemade onion marmalade, spinach, and tomatoes served on a brioche bun. And on the side, a small bowl of truffle fries.

Waiting for my order, looking around the interior, I noticed that the kitchen was hidden behind a bar on the back of the restaurant. Totally out of the norm of the typical burger joint where you can smell the burgers being prepared and sizzling away on the grill. This missing element derives Toma away from being your typical burger joint. And the icing on the cake: School of Rock playing on their TV screens. A major throwback and extra points for Toma!

After waiting fifteen minutes, the waitress brought our burgers to the table, and I was stunned to see a giant ‘T’ stamped on top of the burger bun...oh, excuse me, brioche bun. It’s a smart branding strategy, I must say.

Taking my first bite, the melted blue and Swiss cheese created a well-balanced flavour of sweet and spice with the onion marmalade. The brioche bun was nice and soft, and freshly baked out of the oven. It was the perfect touch to this small, but very well made and appetizing burger. The truffle fries were seasoned nicely with salt and pepper, and fried golden brown. I could also taste a hint of onion and garlic which gave them a stronger taste, but not too overpowering.

Overall, my experience at Toma was satisfying. I was expecting to pay more, and definitely would for a gourmet burger, but I think it was fairly priced for a small, yet filling and appetizing burger. On a side note, they offer delivery service to a large area of downtown Toronto. Pay a visit to their website for delivery locations. So if you’re craving a gourmet burger, this is the place to call.

9.0/10

Burger Review #5: Slab Burgers

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date visited: November 18, 2014 
Location: Yorkville
BurgerTours Rating: 6/10
 

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Good	Some Drip	$6-$10	Fast Food	Veggie, Gluten Free

Website

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Drew's Review

I heard about this place about a week or so before we decided to go. The name itself was intriguing and made me want to sample their "natural fresh burgers". Words like "100% beef" and "freshly ground whole meat" caught my attention as I was browsing their website. I had read a few reviews online about the joint before I finally pitched the destination and it seemed liked a place we had to try.

Slab Burgers sits in the heart of Yorkville, just south of the Bay-Bloor intersection. The joint itself is rather small and offers a few tables and chairs for customers. But this location, being on the edge of the downtown core, must see a lot of walk-ins from men in business suits. The menu has some very interesting items I wanted to try but didn't want to spend a whole lot on. I went with the simple option and gave their original "bacon and cheese Slab burger" a try. I ordered the burger with a side of fries, as they gave me a number and I went to grab a seat. About 10 minutes later, my order was ready. At first glance, the burger looked small - I only added onions and ketchup to my burger, after all. But when I took my first bite, I was amazed by the taste. The meat was well-cooked, sandwiched between two sesame buns, and the addition of onions and ketchup, captured a well-balanced taste to the burger. From what I was able to sample, the meat was definitely 100% freshly ground beef and that's just what I was expecting; tender and the originality of a good burger. The fries were quite appetizing as well. They came golden brown; some big, some small, and reminded me of the fries you get from a truck stop. Any gravy or malt vinegar and they would be incredibly delicious with fish, which is what I'll have to try next time I dine at Slab Burgers. Overall, this is your modern burger joint that offers a wide selection of burgers, poutine and salads. The one thing I like about this place is that they don't add anything to the meat; other than a sprinkle of sea salt. You take it for how it is and how it's supposed to be. Sure it may lack in flavour, but there is freedom in choosing the toppings you want to get the burger you crave. As it says on its website, it's the burger we grew up liking as a child, the burger we remember from a vacation, or the burger we can only dream of eating which is what Slab Burgers is achieving everyday. *Just an FYI, the menu on their site has a lot more options to choose from than the menu they have on the menu board in their restaurant. So keep that in mind if you do wish to specialize your burger and go fully loaded.* 5.0/10

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Mark's Review 

Bacon + cheese Slab Burger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Double Bacon Cheeseburger/Photo by Mark Avila

Slab Burger... what can I say. It’s a hidden gem in downtown Toronto that definitely deserves more attention. It’s quite spacious with a few seats, but there was one thing missing; the customers! We went in the early afternoon just after the lunch hour, which may have contributed to the emptiness of the restaurant, but this is downtown I’m talking about here. I was honestly quite surprised at first, but to our benefit, the lack of customers meant a faster service.

I went to their website the night before and was delighted to see the large selection of burgers and specialty burgers. At first, the Wild Alaska Salmon Burger caught my eye; I mean... how often do you get the chance to try Alaskan Salmon on a burger. It was definitely something that I was looking forward to trying.

Coming to the restaurant the next day, excited about ordering my Wild Alaskan Salmon Burger, to my surprise, I didn’t see it on the menu board. Luckily, the menu board had most of the options I saw on the website the night before, and decided to go for the Double Bacon Cheeseburger. I was given three options of getting the burger with just cheese, just bacon, or bacon & cheese with a price just under $10. With the combo, it came up to a decent price under $15 which I found was a usual price range for a Double Bacon Cheeseburger.

Now this thing was quite big. It took me a few minutes to get my hands around it and to figure out how I was going to get it into my mouth. And when I did, boy, the flavors just oozed out of the patty, and the bacon complimented the taste so well. And if you want grease, then you can definitely find it in this burger. I like a good greasy burger, but this was just a bit too much for me. It got quite messy when the bun started falling apart when I was halfway through eating. But hey, I guess that’s the experience when you’re taking bites out of a good burger. The fries that came with the combo were a little too burnt and crispy for my liking, but we’re seasoned quite well and not too salty.

My overall experience at Slab Burgers was satisfying. The next time I’m at the Bloor & Bay area and looking for a good burger to chow down, I will definitely come back to Slab Burger. 7.0/10

Burger Review #4: The Burger's Priest

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: November 14, 2014

Location: Beaches

BurgerTours Rating: 7.95/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Very Good	Messy	$11-$15	Fast Food	Veggie, Gluten Free

Website

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Drew's Review

The Vatican City/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Right after eating at Hole-E Burger a week earlier, we both agreed that we had to top it somehow. We decided it was going to be the Burger's Priest, which I was also being convinced into trying by friends and family. This being the Burger's Priest, we both said, "Sure, what the hell."

The location on Queen Street, just east of Coxwell, is the GTA's first location to open in 2010. Since then, the Burger's Priest opened up six additional locations in the GTA, and have expanded to Edmonton as of March 14, 2015.

We entered the mini shop in the late afternoon, right when school was ending. There were already a couple sitting at the bar table along the wall when we arrived. We saw there were only three other bar stools available if we wanted to dine-in. Its space really wasn't that huge and this place was already giving me some doubt.

We stood in a small line and after looking over their menu for a good minute, I decided to go with The Vatican City; my only thought about ordering this was now I could say, "I just finished eating the Vatican City." And it was at this time that I learned it was CASH ONLY. Luckily they just had an ATM machine by the front window, but I can never really trust those machines unless they're authentic and have a bank logo on it.

After waiting 5-10 minutes for our burgers, they call my name and my order was ready. I chose not to get anything on the side as the burger alone sounded like it was going to be a handful. I unwrapped it and there, staring back at me were two cheeseburgers, sandwiched between two grilled cheese sandwiches. Holy Christ, I was in heaven.

As if this burger wasn't big enough, I topped it off with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and mayo. First of all, it was difficult getting my hands to wrap around this thing. How the hell am I going to review it if I can't even pick it up? I squished the burger together to make it smaller, and more easier to take a bite out of. Once I got my hands around it, I picked it up, opened my mouth as big as I could and took a massive bite. Consensus: it was Holy-good.

Whether it is the two burgers, the four layers of cheese or the extra toppings, this burger was definitely appetizing. I didn't need the fries after all and was stuffed upon digesting. I once tried a similar combination while I was working for Canada's Wonderland not too long ago. The only difference was this one had two beef patties instead of just one. It was to my surprise that a burger this size was hugely popular with kids who ordered after us. I guess it goes to show that size doesn't matter after all.

Overall, The Vatican City was beyond my expectations and would definitely recommend. Readers beware, the burger in the photo pictured above is ten times bigger in your hands. Even though the joint was small, and a little crowded, the Burger's Priest sure knows how to make a hell of a burger. And if you haven't converted yet, let me be the first to welcome you to the feast.

7.9/10

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Mark's Review

Blue Steel/Photo by Mark Avila

Say, ever wondered how taking a bite out of 'the Pope' would taste like? Well, the Burger’s Priest can assure you that 'the Pope' tastes better than it sounds. This particular burger joint takes on a whole new spin with their burgers by naming them after biblical and religious figures. Who would’ve thought that it would be possible to associate a burger with religion? It's definitely a first. Located in the beaches, one of many locations in Toronto and the GTA, this location was rather small and confining.

Walking inside there, we saw there was very limited space for us to walk around, and nowhere for us to stand and wait for our order. I would say less than five meters separated the bar table from the cashier/handoff. Luckily, there were two stools open for the both of us to sit down and dine. And to my surprise, there was a lunch rush. Though not as big as I was expecting, the people who came into order after us had to either wait inside or stand around outside. But, service was fast and consistent so we were able to get our orders promptly and see the lunch rush come and go in less than a few minutes. 

After spending a minute or two deciding on what to order I suddenly saw a 'cash only' sign, and gave a sigh of relief knowing I actually had cash on me that day. But not to worry, there is an ATM machine for your convenience. 

The menu board has limited selection, but something to take note is that they have a secret menu! (More about that later). I ordered the Blue Steel, which was, at the time on the menu board, but on the website, is now listed on the secret menu. The Blue Steel is a spinoff of a traditional cheeseburger, but with blue cheese. You get the choice of adding additional toppings and I went simple, yet again, with tomatoes and lettuce. I figured that since blue cheese was the main part of this burger, the sweet and savoury flavours alone would be enough to bring out the taste. And I was right. The juiciness from the patty and the sweet flavour from the blue cheese fused so well together that I thought this was probably the best burger I’ve ever tasted. If only it was larger...

As mentioned earlier, the Burger’s Priest has a secret menu which I thought should get a small recognition. You can easily access it on their website answering a short question about Noah’s Ark. It won’t be fair to reveal the answer so I think it would be better to let you figure that out for yourself. 

Once you enter the secret menu page you are presented with a list of burgers, some of which appear in Goliath proportions. Seriously, they’re huge! A lot of them are burgers from the main menu, but just revamped into these appetizing creations. From names such as the 'Four Horseman of the Apocalypse' to 'the Pope'; these burgers are something to be challenged by the strong-hearted. 

A second visit is definitely overdue, but when I come back I will definitely be tackling a burger from the secret menu. Which shall it be? 'the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse', 'the Pope', 'Judgement Day', or the 'Tower of Babel'? You will soon find out.

8.0/10