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