Special Burger Review: Uniburger

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: November 9, 2015
Location: Latin Quarter (Montreal)
BurgerTours Rating: 7.95/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Great	Messy	$6-$10	Fast Food	N/A

Website

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Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Drew's Review

Single Cheeseburger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Bonjour, and welcome to BurgerTours. I like to take this time to say thank you, or merci to the two guys who served us at the Uniburger on Rue Ontario on an early Monday evening. We know we weren't your only customers, but we felt like we were. Anyways, merci and here is the review.

It was a planned trip ever since August that Mark and I were going to travel to Montréal for a few days. And even though our stay was limited, we wanted to fit a special #BurgerTours in. That brings us to Uninurger. It was a decision made by narrowing down the list of Montréal's best burgers. We were left with three choices and from there we just decided that Uniburger was going to be the one to try. For those who aren't familiar, Uniburger is a burger chain with two locations in the Montréal area. After a simple Google search, we got the impression that the burgers looked like a replica of California's In N Out burger chain, so that's what made my final decision.

We arrived just after 5pm on a Monday evening and it was empty. Like, literally. We thought at least it being dinner time there would be someone eating, but alas, it was to our surprise that Mark and I were going to be dining by ourselves. The small burger joint probably sat less than 10 customers and from the outside, it really wasn't that eye appealing because Mark and I walked right past it while we were trying to find it. The interior wasn't that appealing either. The walls were bare and weren’t even bothered to be painted. This to go along with the fact we were dining in an empty restaurant really lowered my expectations of this place.

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

We walked up to the cash register and a guy came up and greeted us and at that moment, probably realized we were from out of town. Mark and I took a glance at the menu and they don't have very many options. They have an original burger named after the burger joint, a cheese burger and a hamburger which, I'm guessing is without the cheese. The only difference was going to be what you top your burger off with. So once again, without realizing, Mark and I ordered the same cheeseburger, with the only difference being the toppings; I went fully loaded and Mark chose a selection.

The meal came together with a combo, with the only choice being French fries. We both chose to get the French fries. It also came alongside a drink; we both chose to get root beer. If you haven't already guessed it, Mark and I have a very similar craving when it comes to most meals. We took a seat at a table along the wall and waited for our order to be called. We both received a number for our order but with nobody else there, and us both getting the same meal, there really wasn't any point in wasting ink on the receipt.

Within a couple of minutes, our orders were ready at the exact same time. I asked Mark if he was SURE we received the right order. We bring the trays back to our table, set it down and make our meals pose for pictures. The first thought I had was that the burger was small, or because we were in Montréal, petite. Even with all the toppings on it, it was lacking size; a size that I imagined would be twice as large when I was reading off the list of available toppings. But no sweat; as I have said before, what lacks in size usually makes up for in flavour. So I was eager to take my first bite.

Golden-Crispy French Fries/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

After the first bite I took, I got the taste of the thick, juicy meat patty with a wide variety of delicious toppings. The lettuce was crunchy, the special sauce was tangy and the melted cheese was gooey and dripping from the sides. The meat was soft and a little undercooked. But with everything on the burger, I really couldn't tell the difference. After a few more bites, the burger was gone but I was craving more. Luckily I still had some fries to munch on. And the fires complemented the burger really well. They were thin-cut natural brown potato fries and were extremely delicious - I didn't need any ketchup of vinegar on them this time.

Overall, Uniburger took a page from In N Out by replicating the tiny burger appearance and introducing it to the French market of Canada. The chef/creator really did a good job in this small little burger chain in Montréal, but maybe within time, there could be a few more locations popping up. Who knows? But for now, Uniburger sits near the top of Montréal's elite burger joints and I'm really glad I got to try their burgers.

7.4/10

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Mark's Review

Salut! #BurgerTours is in Montreal! For this special edition, Andrew and I took a three day trip to Montreal, Quebec, where we visited Uniburger, a burger joint claiming to be “Montreal’s Original Burger”.  When we were planning this BurgerTour, we had a list of three burger joints that caught our attention: Uniburger, Burger Royale, and Tablier Rouge. Reading up on Uniburger on various food blogs and web reviews, I was most intrigued that this joint is dubbed as the In-N-Out Burger of Montreal. But, most importantly, we chose Uniburger because we were curious on what made these burgers ‘original’ compared to others in Montreal. There are two locations in Montreal, one in the Quartier des Spectacles (the Entertainment District), and the other in the Cote des Neiges neighbourhood in central Montreal. We decided to visit the location in the Entertainment District mainly because of its close proximity to our hotel. 

Double Bacon Cheese Burger/ Photo by Mark Avila

Browsing through their online menu prior to our visit, I found that the burger options were indeed original. But, I’m pretty sure this wasn’t why Uniburger is known as the original burger joint of Montreal. The options were limited and basic from the Classic Burger to the Classic Double Bacon Cheeseburger.  Making my choice, however, was very clear. I opted for the Double Bacon Cheeseburger combo for a price of $9.99 with a side of fries and your choice of fountain drink or milkshake. The Burger on its own came to a price of $5.99.

We were the only customers at the time we visited which was around 6pm, so the service was fast and sufficient, and our food came out pretty quickly. On a side note, this was the second time that Andrew and I both chose the same burger. The only difference this time was that we chose different toppings. I went simple with my topping choices of lettuce, tomato, relish, and ketchup. It was quite small and basic, but was it ever full of flavour. The patty was one of the most juiciest I’ve ever tasted, and perfectly seasoned. I probably never would have gotten this burger any other way. However, if I had just gotten the burger with just the beef patty and cheddar cheese, I would have been satisfied.

For our first burger experience in Montreal, I was very satisfied and happy with our decision of going to Uniburger.  Even though this was a Double Bacon Cheeseburger like any other, there was originality when it came to taste. The flavours complimented well with one another, and there was no overwhelming flavour that conflicted with my taste buds when taking the first bite. If I’m ever back in Montreal, I will definitely consider visiting Uniburger again!

8.5/10

Burger Review #16: Fatburger

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: September 28, 2015 
Location: Thornhill
BurgerTours Rating: 8.1/10

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

Website

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Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Drew's Review

Fatburger is a burger joint that's really needs no introduction. Being an American burger chain, I knew right from the start the burgers were going to be massive. I had one goal in mind and that was to leave this establishment satisfied with a full stomach. And I succeeded.

Old Style Bacon Cheddar Burger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Fatburger was our third American burger chain and it definitely lived up to my expectations. We decided to go on a muggy, late September day in the middle of the afternoon. It was quite the adventure trying to find the place. It's located north of the city in Thornhill and it is right across the street from Promenade Mall. From the outside, the dine-in restaurant looks narrow, but once you enter through either door from the west or the east, the space opens up. Right in the east entranceway, where we walked in, there is a dining space that has nearly five tables and a table bar along the wall. I was a little shocked because I wasn't expecting a big enough space for this many tables. There were a few guys in there who had just finished placing their orders before us, but to my surprise, it was pretty empty. There were only two employees working behind the counter from what we could see, but maybe at this time of the day, no rush or anything, it only needed the two.

As you walk in, you'll walk down a narrow hall towards the area where you give your order. Along the walls are strips and comics that advertise Fatburger. The walls are painted like a bar or a pub, and each has a really modern look to it. One wall has pictures of the burgers, and various statements that Fatburger claims to be there personalized motto.

Before we go to place our order, the guy behind the counter greets us and then waits as we take some time to read over the menu. I wanted to get something with bacon on it as I was craving it for a few days beforehand. I decided to go with the Old Style Bacon Cheddar burger. The list of toppings that followed sounded like it was going to be a mouthful. Mark and I also agreed to get a milkshake just to shake things up this time around. The gentleman gave us a number and told us to grab a table and when our meal was ready, the waitress will bring it to us. We walk back through the hallway and grab a seat in the corner overlooking the dining area, which made for a pretty good photo-op. Within minutes of placing our order, our milkshakes were brought out, followed by our meals.

Old Style Bacon Cheddar Burger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Sitting in the basket was the burger I had ordered and a side of fries with ketchup. The burger was massive. The lettuce alone was falling out of the burger. I knew this was going to be a mess, so I stacked up on napkins and went to work. The first bite I got was the beef, lettuce, mustard and small bites of the crispy bacon. It was enough to satisfy my taste buds. I added a little hot sauce for my liking and even though the burger was already stuffed to the roof, the hot sauce made it that more amazing.

Every now and then I would glance over at my chocolate milkshake to see how much I had already gone through and by the the time I had finished eating half of the burger, I was down to my last sip. The fries were gone too as I like to get them out of the way before I finish the burger. The burger was one delicious taste after another. And when I finished it, I was fighting for more. But I was stuffed. The burger was beyond perfection for my liking, and the chocolate milkshake was probably the best one I've had to this day.

Chocolate Milkshake/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The fries were golden crispy, and fresh. The fries were nothing too special, but nice to have on the side. After we fished out meal, the waitress returns to collect our baskets and asks us if we wanted a cup of ice water. We both agree and she goes back and brings out two cups of ice water for the both of us. I take a sip and this was everything I needed right then and there, in a cup. I don't know what it was about this cup of ice water but it was unlike any other ice water I've drank before. I would give that ice water a definite 10/10 for being exactly what I need after a huge, good tasting burger.

Overall, Fatburger offers an American tradition since 1952 by grilling up some good tasting burgers; not to mention their burgers are always fresh. And although they have a variety of choices on the menu, like alcoholic drinks for example, burgers are what they truly excel in. The service at this location was outstanding and the burgers were delicious. I would highly recommend this burger joint to anyone with a huge appetite. And if it wasn't all the way in Thornhill, I would definitely be here more often.

7.7/10

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Wall Menu/Photo by Mark Avila

 Mark's Review

The New Yorker/Photo by Mark Avila

Who knew it would take us this long to finally visit Fatburger. Well, the fact that it is located in Thornhill, north of Toronto, is probably one of the main reasons. But, being the only location in Ontario, my expectations were quite high. This particular joint was hyped up to me by a friend who lived out of town, and pressured me to try it out when I had the chance. Seeing that this particular visit was my special birthday tour, I took advantage of the opportunity.

*s/o to Andrew for treating me out to this awesome meal*

Seeing the restaurant for the first time, I was a little disappointed at how small the exterior was. I honestly thought it was going to be a cramped space with little to no room for dining. But, never judge a book by its cover. As soon as I walked into the restaurant, I was pleased to see a pretty decent size dining area with their signature burgers plastered on the wall.

After walking up to the counter to place our order, I just stood and stared blankly at the menu for the longest time. I always love a big selection! I finally made my decision with the New Yorker, a specialty burger on their menu for a limited time. I ordered it as a combo with a side of Fries, and a Banana Milkshake. Made with Angus Beef, slow cooked Pastrami, and covered with a thick layer of melted cheddar cheese, this burger is definitely up there with the big boys.

Chocolate and Banana Milkshake/ Photo by Mark Avila

Taking the first bite, the cheddar cheese immediately covered my taste buds. The Angus beef combined with the cheddar cheese made the burger so juicy, and the Pastrami added some extra flavour. But, I must admit, the cheddar cheese totally outdid the Pastrami. It was just a little too much. Even without the Pastrami, I feel the New Yorker would’ve tasted exactly the same. It was a little bit of a letdown. Regardless, I found the New Yorker to be a nice combination of flavour. Definitely a satisfying experience for both my stomach and taste buds.

Fatburger went above and beyond my expectations. From the efficient and quick service to the burger itself, my experience at Fatburger was certainly one to return to. Despite the far distance from where I live, I wouldn’t mind travelling to Thornhill for a satisfying and appetizing meal.

8.5/10