Special Burger Review: Hambrgr

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: October 17, 2017
Location: Hamilton, ON
BurgerTours Rating: 9.15/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Excellent	Very Messy	$11-$15	Restaurant, Bar	Veggie, Gluten Free, Patio, Liquor

Website 

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Drew's Review

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Hambrgr was a place that was on our list for nearly a year. It was a destination that was given to us, like many others, by word of mouth and it was only a matter of time before we found ourselves in downtown Hamilton. On a day trip out of the city, Mark and I decided to drive to Hamilton to dine at Hambrgr.

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Hambrgr was introduced to the Hammer city in October of 2015. Chef Mike Cipollo worked 12 years as a corporate chef with Bier Markt and when the time came to open his first restaurant, he scouted possible locations in and around Hamilton. His plan was to open a “refined casual” restaurant with about 200 seats in about 7,000 square feet, but Cipollo would settle on King William, the heart of downtown Hamilton, a mere 600-square-foot area that sat close to 40 diners. Since then, Hambrgr has made quite the buzz with locals and people like us driving in from Toronto to try their delicious creations.

It was late into the evening when we arrived in Hamilton, so we were expecting it to be pretty busy…and it was. Every seat, every table, was taken. And we were lucky enough to get a small space right up beside the wall on a narrow table. In this joint, clearly, we weren’t dining alone. This place offered an array of qualities I have not experienced in burger joints in Toronto. The décor screamed hipster - It's got wood/metal tables, chalkboard walls, and exposed brick. It reminded me of some of the joints we’ve visited on Queen Street West.

Mark and I took our time to read over the menu before ordering. This was our first time, and the pressure of dining at a top ranked burger joint in Ontario was high and doesn’t come along very often. After a few minutes, we were ready to order. I got the Hamont, a signature burger crafted in house. And from the list of toppings, it sounds like it will quite the taste bud adventure.

The Hamont/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Within a few minutes, our burgers were ready and the platter, that came with a side of fries, arrived in front of our eyes. The burger was tall and the toppings really stood out. The Hamont came loaded with two patties, grilled onions, iceberg lettuce, glazed bacon, American cheese and their homemade Brgr sauce. The first bite had everything I could ask for in a burger. The meat was cooked to perfection, the bacon was magnificent and Brgr sauce was just what it needed to compliment the overall flavour.

The fries on the side were golden brown, and crispy and just the right amount of seasoning for my liking. They also offer poutine and other side options as well if you’re not feeling the desire for French fries.

Overall, Hambrgr was just what I had imagined: friendly staff, a vibrant atmosphere and great tasting burgers. I would strongly recommend this burger joint to all the burger lovers around the world. It takes strong creativity and brilliant minds to pull off what Hambrgr has in recent years. Maybe if it wasn’t an hour drive away, I could see myself eating there more often, but for now, I’m glad that it exists and it was well worth the drive.

8.8/10

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Mark's Review

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

This special burger tour review takes us an hour and a half drive out of Toronto to the City of Hamilton, where we visit Hambrgr. And no, Hambrgr, is not a typo. This joint first started off in 2015 with hopes to place Hamilton on the burger scene, with “the best damn burger you’ve ever eaten”. Hambrgr likes to keep it simple, but at the same time crafting the best quality burgers from locally sourced ingredients, accompanied by a vast selection of quality draft beer. Hambrgr certainly caught our attention, and we couldn’t wait to see what this Downtown Hamilton burger joint had to offer.

A popular spot for locals to dine in on a Friday night, the restaurant was bustling with diners either enjoying the sports game playing at the bar, or indulging in a meal with friends or family. Our purpose, like always, was the burgers. They offer a decent menu selection with two vegetarian options which caters to those who choose to enjoy a gluten free burger alternative.

The Maui Wowi/Photo by Mark Avila

I opted for the Maui Wowi. It comprises of a ¼ ounce beef patty, layered with spiced pulled pork white cheddar, pineapple jam, a coffee spiked BBQ sauce, and topped with crispy onions. I’ve had fairly large burgers in the past, but this one almost topped the rest. The first bite had me a little confused. All the flavours struck all at once... spicy, sweet, smoky... it was too much for one bite. But, once everything settled, I started to notice that the coffee based BBQ sauce was the dominant flavour in the burger. The kick from the pineapple jam was short and sweet that I even forgot there was pineapple incorporated in the burger. The spiced pulled pork and seasoning from the crispy onions balanced the smokiness from the BBQ sauce, which made the burger more flavourful and enjoyable.

This has got to be one of my favourite burgers that I’ve had in quite some time. The strong flavours solidified into a burger that is guaranteed to satisfy your preferred taste.

Hambrgr did not disappoint from the service, busyness, and the food. This was a perfect introduction to Hamilton’s burger scene, and if others aren’t up to par, then this is definitely the best damn burger I’ve ever eaten!

9.5/10

Burger Review #34: Rudy

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: September 27, 2017
Location: Little Italy
BurgerTours Rating: 8.1/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Awesome	Messy	$11-$15	Fast Food	Veggie

Website 

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Drew's Review

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

It would be Rude not to review or try Rudy.

We had no idea what Rudy was and had only heard about it through word of mouth. Needless to say, we had to find out what made Rudy, Rudy. According to a website, Rudy isn’t really anything or anyone at all. In fact, it was just an inside joke between the owner and his business partner to refer to people who get a little out of hand after having one too many drinks back in college. Interesting, eh?

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Rudy (the restaurant) is a minimally decorated eatery in Little Italy that offers a small menu of burgers, chicken sandwiches and fries. Rudy caught our attention for being a burger joint that kept showing up on our news feed and the burgers from Rudy looked amazing in pictures. But could it actually taste as good as it looks? Yes. The answer is an emphatic yes.

We entered the burger joint in the early afternoon on an overcast grey day and while we were dining, I think only a handful of people came in to order and leave after picking it up. I wondered if it was a routine thing having customers wander in off the streets and order food for takeaway. The interior is quite large with an open feel and seating for about 20. When we went up to order, the menu was a lot smaller than I had read online, and only a few options for me to choose from without ordering the same thing as Mark. We placed our orders and went to grab a table near the window and within about 10 minutes, our orders were ready.

The Rudy/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

I ordered the Rudy, which is a single-patty cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato, and Rudy sauce. The burger was small and compact, but what it lacked in size, it made up for in flavour. The meat was tender and juicy with a nice beefy kick, it’s pretty much exactly what you’re looking for in the taste department. The buns were crisp and well-grilled and was a perfect match with the meat. The toppings added a nice little compliment to the overall burger. It was a pleasantly delicious burger with no unnecessary fixings or flavours and showcased itself to be one of the top-quality burgers I have tasted.

The fries on the other hand, weren’t as tasty. They lacked in flavour and seasoning and they were really dry and bland. I probably could’ve had the poutine for a much more appropriate side option, but maybe it was just a bad batch.

Overall, Rudy was ultimately a surprise and to many burger lovers, its an unexpected one. How could such a small burger pack a huge punch? Rudy does it well when it comes to grilling fresh ground meat and placing in between two crispy golden-brown buns. It’s a very unique way of making burgers, and sort of resembles a Shake Shack kind of look. Anyways, I’m all for these types of burgers and there aren’t that many that look that way in Toronto that we haven’t tried. If there’s anything that Rudy does right, it’s the burgers and sometimes you have to be a little Rudy to make it in the Toronto burger scene.

7.7/10

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Mark's Review

The Valentino/Photo by Mark Avila

We are back in Little Italy! For this tour we take you to Rudy on College Street. This joint was on our radar for quite some time, and returning to this area for another tour was something to look forward to.

The menu was small, but they made up for it in quality and originality. I decided to try the Valentino. It's a Fried Chicken Sandwich, layered with coleslaw, Valentino Sauce, and topped with a mild hot sauce.

The first bite brought out the hot sauce in an instant. There was a touch of smokiness and spice, which I assume was the Valentino Sauce that ignited a burning sensation in my mouth. The sweetness of the coleslaw eased the spiciness creating a well balanced flavour. The chicken breast was perfectly cooked to a golden brown, crispy on the outside, but soft and light on the inside. Not much complaints with this one.. the taste was spot on.

Little Italy, again, brings out another hidden gem in this neighbourhood's burger scene. Definitely rises to one of my favourites. I recommend visiting Rudy if you're ever in the neighbourhood and wanting to have a quick bite.

8.5/10