Burger Review #42: Showtime Bistro

Photo by Andrew Hockridge, featuring Mark Avila

Date Visited: July 15, 2019
Location: Armdale
BurgerTours Rating: 8.9/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Great	Very Messy	$11-$15	Diner	Veggie

Website
 

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Drew's Review

Showtime Bistro is a halal gourmet restaurant specializing in burgers, sandwiches and poutine. This was going to be our 5-year anniversary of #BurgerTours, so we were looking for something with class and a fine dining experience, and seeing the word gourmet in the description really made Showtime Bistro stand out.

The ambiance features warm lighting and rich wood paneling, but what sold me was the theme; cinematic. They have TV screens playing classic movies as well as famous quotes adorning the walls. Not to mention most of their burger options revolve around this theme. I guess you could say a touch of Hollywood rounds out the experience at this halal burger joint in Scarborough.

The Mike Tyson burger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

As soon as we entered, shortly after filming our 5-year anniversary Q&A for our YouTube channel, we were greeted and taken to a table. The staff were all very pleasant and offered to give recommendations as this was our very first visit.

After taking a look at the menu, I ordered the Mike Tyson burger. It came with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, a pickle, bacon, fried battered jalapeños, topped with Havarti cheese and Showtime’s signature spicy mayo. I also had to try the Ferrero Rocher milkshake because that alone was something I had to try.

Ferrero Rocher Milkshake/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Within minutes, our orders were ready and brought to us on a patter. The Mike Tyson looked well cooked and very well compact for a gourmet burger. The first bite was delicious and had the right amount of flavour for what I was craving. I liked the fact that the jalapeños actually complemented the taste vs. just burning my mouth like it usually does. You could see the juice as you bite into your burger. You can tell they use good quality meat. However, the bun was so soft that it kept crumbling and it made the whole eating experience a bit messy. I'm sure that can be easily fixed if you ask for your burger bun to be well done.

The Ferrero Rocher milkshake was by far the highlight of my dining experience. That thing was like a satisfying meal in itself. It was very thick and filling, but makes you full of guilt after. I try to avoid dairy as much as possible but this is the only exception because it's that good. I can confidently say that if you have this milkshake, you will want to go back again and again. I'm currently craving it.

Here's the rundown. Showtime Bistro is fantastic and a must-try for those looking for something halal set in a modern cuisine. The cinematic theme they have going really adds to the dining experience. I would go back just to have the Ferrero Rocher milkshake again. The Mike Tyson burger is one of the best halal burgers I think I’ve ever had. Highly recommend everyone to give this restaurant a shot and dine in the spotlight. It’s worth the price and you won’t regret it.

8.7/10

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Mark's Review

We’ve reached another milestone at #BurgerTours, but this one is more momentous. We are 5 years old! I can’t believe how quickly time has flown by, and how many burger joints we’ve tagged across Toronto and Canada. Hopefully, in the next 5 years we will be able to take #BurgerTours abroad and feast on what the world has to offer.

For this milestone tour, we take you to North Toronto where we visit a popular halal bistro that serves crafted burgers, wraps, sandwiches, poutine, and much more.

We visit Showtime Bistro!

The Pineapple Express/Photo by Mark Avila

This joint guarantees 100% halal servings, and has a broad menu ranging from entrees, desserts, milkshakes, and mocktails. But, we were here for one thing... the burgers! They offer a decent burger selection and I opted for the Pineapple Express, a new addition to their menu lineup.

The Pineapple Express is a beef patty burger layered with spicy jerk seasoning, a slice of pineapple and topped with lettuce, tomato, onions, and jerk mayo. On top of that, it was served with big chunks of potato wedges which were nicely cooked and seasoned. I also couldn’t resist an order of the Mango Milkshake.

Taking that first bite I immediately caught the spice and sweetness from the jerk seasoning and mayo, which was a nice balance between the two flavours. Had the pineapple been grilled, that additional sweetness would’ve been a good compliment to the taste of the burger.

Overall, the burger was juicy and perfectly cooked. The portion size was fair, and more than enough to satisfy my stomach.

I was impressed by the service and quality of the food that Showtime had to offer, and is probably one of the top halal joints that I’d visit again. I didn’t have high expectations, but this first visit definitely surpassed it.

9/10

Burger Review #41: Burgers Park

Photo by Andrew Hockridge, featuring Mark Avila

Date Visited: June 21, 2019
Location: Henry Farm
BurgerTours Rating: 8.75/10

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

Website
 

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Drew's Review

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Burgers Park has been on our list for nearly a year, and we could never find the time to make the trip up to the Victoria Park and Sheppard Ave. area. What stood out for me was the conspiracy that the food offered by Burgers Park is eerily similar to that of Shake Shack. Now I’ve never been to Shake Shack before, but by comparing pictures, I can certainly agree there are some similarities.

We arrived in the early afternoon and the place had a few customers dining at the time. This place was clearly going for a park atmosphere, and I think they actually nailed it in terms of providing a quaint area with matching decor to eat and relax a bit. It was spacious enough not to feel too cramped, and lots of bright lighting.

The Park Burger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Upon deciding what to get, the girl behind the counter informed us the milkshake/juices option wasn’t available. I was really dying to try one of their fruit drink options. But then again, this is a burger review and not a juice review. Burgers Park has a small menu; choosing between the burgers didn’t take any time at all. They also offer hot dogs, craft drinks and cookies and gelato for dessert.

I ordered the Park Burger, which came with American Cheese, beefsteak tomato, lettuce, sautéed onions, pickles, and the optional addition of ketchup and mayo. I was a bit surprised by the wait time as it was a little longer than I expected for the few people that were in the restaurant at the time. Despite that, the service was friendly.

The Park Burger was fantastic. The first bite was intense, and screaming to be cherished. The meat was freshly made and cooked to perfection. This is probably why our order took so long. But after consuming a few bites, the burger was very juicy/oily, which we were warned by the waiter not to take the wrapper off the burger. The fries also had a really good seasoning on them and if I had to rank them, I would give them two thumbs up!

Overall, if you're looking for a Shake Shack alternative or just a superb burger from an established burger joint, check out Burgers Park!

8.5/10

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Mark's Review

The Park Burger/Photo by Mark Avila

Burgers Park has been labelled the Canadian “Shake Shack” by some and is said to resemble other international burger joints, so we thought it would be nice to check it out and see if it’s the real deal. At a first glance the interior was very clean, casual, and green. The wood panels, and grass wall and benches created a casual fictitious indoor park atmosphere.

The menu ranges from hot dogs, burgers, milkshakes, smoothies, and craft drinks.

Since we were at Burgers Park, I had to go for the Park Burger. A Cheeseburger made of Angus Beef, seared mustard, lettuce, and tomato. I also wanted to try one of their crafted Fruit Shakes, but they were unfortunately not making it that day which was a little disappointing.

Taking the first bite, the Angus beef was very crisp and had a nice savory flavour. Out of the many Cheeseburgers I’ve had previously, this one is up on my list.

The overall quality was top notch and the flavours complimented each other really well. Since I have yet to try Shake Shack, this definitely was a nice preview and sets the bar high for a future visit.

9/10

Burger Review #40: Hidden Burger

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: January 25, 2019
Location: Financial District
BurgerTours Rating: 7.95/10

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

Website
 

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Drew's Review

Cheeseburger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The one question we had when we selected Hidden Burger was how were we going to find it?

Well, Hidden Burger is not so hidden thanks to the internet. Upon a Google search, Hidden Burger is located somewhere within Brookfield Plaza in the financial district of downtown Toronto. Now all we had to do was walk around and find it. It was like chasing after a rare Charizard.

Once found, Hidden Burger is a small, Archie-themed, cramped little area, with a few bar stools and a table along the wall. Luckily it wasn’t as busy as we were anticipating and the wait was only a few minutes to get our orders. Hidden Burgers offers burgers at a relatively modest size. More than fair for the price, and you'll be full with the large number of fries given - but just be aware that it's at a comparable size to Burger Priest and not the Works.

I decided to go with the cheeseburger. The burger comes with a soft bun (not toasted), burger patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion and a bit of ketchup/mustard. The burger itself was very fresh and obviously made with quality ingredients. The beef patty was well seasoned and perfectly cooked.

Overall, Hidden Burger is a great little spot especially if you like a little bit of a mystery hunt. It’s definitely nothing super fantastic but a good solid burger if you're in the neighborhood or want something better than your typical fast food chain. It was well worth the find and the money spent, and you'll be playing "hide the burger" with your mouth quite quickly once you get a hold of one.

7.4/10

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Mark's Review

Photo by Mark Avila

The Cheeseburger/Photo by Mark Avila

Hidden Burger wasn’t the easiest joints to find. 

Nestled behind Bottom Line Sports Bar inside one of the Towers in Toronto’s Financial District, Hidden Burger serves simple all American style burgers topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and American cheddar cheese. Offering a basic menu consisting of the Veggie Burger, Cheeseburger, and Double Cheeseburger, this joint offers no substitutions. Simply said... you get what you pay for. They also have the “Jughead” Platter, inspired by the Archie Comics, is a 10 cheeseburger platter with added toppings, served with their side of fries and Jalapeno dipping sauce. And did I mention its $100!

I opted for the Cheeseburger. As simple as it was, it was perfectly made. The beef patty was nicely cooked, and the thick slab of cheddar cheese added a nice creamy flavour. There really isn’t much to say, other than that it was a satisfying experience that exceeded my expectations.

8.5/10

Special Burger Review: McCoy Burger Co

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: November 4, 2018
Location: Oshawa, ON
BurgerTours Rating: 5/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Good	Chaos	$11-$15	Fast Food	Veggie

Website
 

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Drew's Review

McCoy Burger Co. was simply just a forethought after reading that our first, desired option, Baldwin Street Burger in Whitby, was closed due to “unforeseen circumstances.” For a chilly day in early November, I didn’t mind driving out to Oshawa to try this burger joint. Within the last few months, I had seen McCoy pop up in a few searches of intended burger joints to try. Seeing they once had a location on Yonge St. in midtown, I didn’t want this one to be “the one that got away.”

We arrived shortly before 2 in the afternoon and we were pretty hungry. McCoy has two locations remaining; one in Ajax and one in Oshawa. The one we drove to was located in a small plaza in North Oshawa and if you’re not paying attention, you may miss it. We walked in to see a small number of people already dining for a late lunch/early dinner. Now because this wasn’t our originally planned joint, we barely did any research about what to order/what to avoid. The girl at the counter seemed kind of indifferent and wasn't to helpful with the menu.

With a quick glance of the menu, I decided to go for the Double Jack burger. It came loaded with two 4.5 oz. of premium Canadian beef on a ciabatta bun with 3 slices of real Monterrey Jack. Onions sautéed in BBQ Sauce and topped with lettuce, tomatoes and McCoy Sauce. Before my first bite, I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew this was going to get messy as sauces were already oozing out of it.

Double Jack/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The first bite was mouth-watering, but it didn’t last long. It was harder to eat than I anticipated because the ciabatta bun was slowly disappearing before the rest of the burger. The sauce was still oozing out before the rest of the contents started to fall out. I also felt like the world was watching me eat, struggling to wipe up the mess that was escalating before me. I wanted to tap out, but I refused. The clash between the BBQ sauce and special McCoy sauce created a river of liquid that the burger itself could not contain. I was running out of napkins. I could barely taste the Monterrey jack cheese, the exact embodiment of what this burger was named after.

What this burger lacked was the consistency of a natural burger. The ciabatta buns were merely bread slices between two stacks of 4 ½ pounds of meat and a sauce that was waterier than an ice cream on a hot summer day. Along with the texture and no flame broil taste, it was greasy. Really greasy. Like so greasy, it would make Burger Priest seem like a health food staple. There was barely any flavour and maybe the only thing the burger needed was a little salt.

Perhaps my expectations for a place that once operated in midtown Toronto were too high? But maybe there was a good enough explanation as to why it closed up shop in the big city and maintained their east-most joints.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The meat itself was juicy and it was really good quality beef, but felt like it needed a touch of craftsmanship. The Double Jack came across a bit bland for my tastes and I probably wouldn’t get it again.

4/10

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Mark's Review

The Mediterranean/Photo by Mark Avila

This tour was a more spontaneous than usual. Coming home from a weekend north of Toronto, we decided to take a quick detour to Oshawa. Here, we were originally planning on visiting a joint to do a tour, but to our surprise they were closed for a private function. As a backup, we drove a short distance to McCoy Burger Company.

This joint with locations in Ajax and Oshawa, prides in handmade burgers, farmed by Canadian Farmers, and grilled to perfection to provide you with the freshest and juiciest burger.

I opted for the Mediterranean. Local Ontario Spring Lamb on a bed of feta cheese, tomato, tzaziki, and lettuce. This perfectly brings out the flavours of Greece in a single burger.

At a first glance, it was sloppy and not put well together. However, the taste was good enough to save the presentation. The flavours fused together really well, and the taste was not overpowering as I was expecting. The lamb was nicely cooked, and the Tzatziki was definitely a highlight for me. It was a nice blend of citrus and sweetness to balance out the flavour.

It was nothing spectacular, as I was hoping for a good quality burger. But, it was decent enough to satisfy my hunger. Overall, the experience was underwhelming, but I hope to visit again soon for a better burger!

6/10

Burger Review #39: Fat Ninja Bite

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: September 16, 2018
Location: Milliken
BurgerTours Rating: 7.5/10

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

Website
 

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Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Drew's Review

If you’re looking for an Asian fusion joint and you happen to find yourself in the North West part of Scarborough, we’ve found the perfect location for you.

Fat Ninja Bite was first introduced to me through Mark and we decided to give it a visit on a warm day in September. When we arrived, there was very limited parking because it was in a small strip mall, but luckily, we were able to find a spot just as a customer was leaving. We walked in and the first thing I noticed was how small the seating area was. There was only a bar against the window with about 10 barstools.

Cheese Don Katsu Burger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

We took a few minutes to read over the menu, and they have quite the list of selections; Asian-fusion burgers, chips, noodle soups and soft serve ice cream.

I ordered the Cheese Don Katsu Burger with lettuce, tomato, pickles & cabbage. The burger is a little difficult to eat so be prepared to get a little messy. The katsu is tender and flaky. It was pretty tasty, lightly battered, and big enough so you won’t require seconds. The sandwich had tomatoes, lettuce, slaw, and even pickles, brought together by a nice spicy mayo. As you've seen the cutlet itself, is way bigger than the bun itself.

Overall, the Don Katsu Burger is good but its not the best. Worth trying at least once or twice if you are in the area. The wait does seem long for a place that is set up like a fast-food stall. Although it is a small and obscure place, it is a must try and is a good place to grab a quick bite to eat.

5.5/10

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Mark's Review

For this tour we visit the north side of Toronto where we are introduced to a unique burger, a burger that is a fusion of the east and west. We take you to Fat Ninja Bite!

The Don Katsu Burger/Photo by Mark Avila

Fat Ninja Bite is all about the love for food. They prepare their burgers fresh every morning to ensure perfection and freshness (Expect to have a long wait since it is being prepared on the spot). Quality and freshness is something I always look for in a good burger, I had high expectations for Fat Ninja Bite.

This joint is known for their Katsu Burgers, (Japanese Style Cutlet covered in a thick layer of bread crumbs), and that’s what I had to try. They offer 3 types of Katsu: Don (Pork), Cheese Don (Pork), and Chicken. I opted for the Don Katsu Burger.

The Don Katsu is a monstrous burger layered with lettuce, tomato, pickles, cabbage, and a large slab of Pork Cutlet placed in the middle. They also have sauce options of either original, spicy, garlic or chipotle.
Taking that first bite... the sweetness from the sauce gave the burger a mellow taste, which provided a well balanced burst of flavour. The Pork Katsu was nicely cooked with a nice crunch! I also had a side of coleslaw which tasted amazing... a nice blend of sweet and sour, with a touch of creaminess. Authenticity is something I always appreciate, and definitely tasted it in the fusion of east and west.

Overall, the quality and service from Fat Ninja was above my expectations. The staffs were attentive and friendly, and the food was worth the wait and lived up to the hype. So, if you’re looking for a big and satisfying meal then Fat Ninja Bite is the place to go.

9.5/10

Burger Review #38: Shamrock Burgers

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: July 29, 2018
Location: Highland Creek
BurgerTours Rating: 7/10

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

Website
 

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Drew's Review

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Craving a burger, and not in a drive-thru rush? If you’re in the area, try Shamrock. It’s a bit of drive, but if you live in the east end of Scarborough, it’s definitely one of the better burger joints out there.

Shamrock Burgers was established in 1970 by Mr. Danny Maleganeas, and has since grown to three locations (2 in Ontario, and 1 in Alberta). This place at first glance doesn’t look like much but when you walk in, the staff are super friendly and there are few places to sit. The place itself is a bright and clean, fast-casual atmosphere with a mixture of "rock and roll" and Irish themed décor.

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

When Mark and I walked in on a sunny summer day in late July, it was just after the dinner rush, but diners were still trinkling in. There were seats and tables to sit at, and we were eager to get a table. So we made our orders brief.

Now, the food...

Shamrock’s menu consists of homemade fast food items such as burgers, fries, prime rib steak on a bun, chicken wrap, poutine, chicken souvlaki, and much more. Their goal is to offer a "fun, friendly and interactive rock and roll experience coupled with great homemade food to their customers". Overall, they have stayed true to their initial principles of using quality ingredients, and providing fresh made-to-order meals.

I really enjoy their list of selections on the menu. Lots of tasty toppings, your choice of cheese and a saucy selection complement the standards. Can't decide between fries and rings? Don't! Go for frings!

Double-Decker Grilled Cheese Burger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

I decided to go with the Double Decker Grilled Cheese, which was a massive beef patty between 2 grilled cheese sandwiches, 2 pieces of side bacon, red onion, romaine lettuce and tomato. The bread had a decent amount of thickness, so the ratio between the bread slices, and patty wasn't too bad. This was an overall tasty grilled cheese burger, and definitely filling. I also got a side a golden crispy fries and a Vanilla milkshake, because I was starving, clearly.

Overall, the food is crazy good. Not bad value for what they give you which is a huge burger. If you're a burger fan, or just craving burgers, this is a great place to go. The place does seem a little small and cramped and not that great of an atmosphere, but if you're there just for the food, it's amazing.

This place is well worth any drive you need to take to get there or bus if that is you only option. I am very jealous of the people in the neighborhood that have access to this all the time. But leave your conscience behind because you will be carrying lots of greasy calories out with you.

7.5/10

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Mark's Review

For this Burger Tour we take you to east Scarborough to the neighbourhood of Highland Creek, where we visit Shamrock Burgers. One of two locations in the GTA, Shamrock Burgers is known for delivering a unique burger experience starting from friendly service, to an “edgy and youthful rock alternative”, with quality ingredients and burgers.

The rock and roll theme populates their menu with the Classic Rock, Rock Star, and Famous Combos.

I opted for the Gaelic. Since Shamrock screams Ireland, might as well go for an Irish-inspired burger.

The Gaelic/Photo by Mark Avila

The Gaelic is layered with lettuce, tomato, sun-dried tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, shamrock cheese sauce, and house made lemon-tarragon aioli. Unfortunately, the sun-dried tomatoes were not available.

The meat was juicy and sweet. The citrus from the lemon aioli contrasted with a smooth sour flavour. No flavour overpowered the other; it was a perfectly balanced burger.

Good experience and delicious offerings. Will definitely have to try their edgy rock and roll style burgers next time!

6.5/10

Special Burger Review: Burger Royal

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: June 23, 2018
Location: Le Plateau - Mont Royal (Montreal)
BurgerTours Rating: 8.95/10

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

Website
 

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Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Drew's Review
Do you know what they call a quarter pounder with cheese in France? A royal with cheese.

Burger Royal is nothing to mess with. Located in the Le Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood on St. Laurent Blvd., this place is seriously regal. A true dignity to burger royalty.

We went on a Saturday at around 8pm. It being a Saturday evening in late June, this place was bustling. There was a table open we saw just as soon as we arrived. It was the beginning of summer in Montreal, so everyone is out and about. Needless to say, this place wasn’t hard to find at all.

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

I advise to come with an empty stomach. Burger Royal offers good sized portions, and hearty food. Burgers come in three sizes. 3, 6 and 9oz. (The 6 will satisfy most, the 9 is massive). You can also choose how cooked your burger is (rare to well done). And there are a large selection of burger choices, or you can customize to your liking. And you know when they ask you how you like your burger meat cooked, it's going to be delicious.

It's juicy, the meat is seasoned, it's heavy 6oz but at the same time light and fluffy when you bite into it. I don't know how else to explain it. They have a bunch on the menu for you to choose or you can make your own from scratch.

I gave the menu a hard read and after a few minutes reading over the options, I made the toughest decision I made all weekend. Of all the creations that sounded amazing to try, I went with the 3 oz. Awks burger. It was a burger that came loaded with Monterey jack and cheddar cheese, pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayo. It's juicy, the meat is seasoned, it's a heavy 3oz but at the same time light and fluffy when you bite into it. I don't know how else to explain it.

Awks/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The sensation was pure delight. The craftiness put into this small creation went beyond expectations. The flavour was succulent with light elements of tangy and zesty. The meat was cooked light and was able to bite into it without any difficulty. It was soft and tender and the juices clashed nicely with the quality of the burger.

Burger Royal can fit into any category seemingly well. Alcohol isn’t an option, but veggie and gluten-free options are. The burgers are compact and fit into many mouths and generally served for hungry customers. Burger Royal was exactly what I wanted and needed after a long day of exploring the city. It's a great vibe and definitely a must-go when visiting Montreal.

8.9/10

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Mark's Review

We set off once again to discover more local and authentic burger joints outside of Toronto. But, rather than touring the GTA like we’ve done the past few months, we drove 5 hours away to a previous BurgerTour location, Montreal. This is our second time to tag a burger joint in Montreal, the first being Uniburger back in 2015. For this special BurgerTour, we visit Burger Royal.

Burger Royal was on our list to visit back in 2015, but with the distance being out of reach for us at the time we decided to save it for our next trip... three years later, here we are!

They take a fine spin on comfort food, taking the freshest mountain raised and grass fed beef from Mont Laurier. Aside from burgers, they also serve a variety of: chilli, mac n’cheese, poutine, salads, and hot dogs.

Located in the Mont Royale neighbourhood just west of Downtown Montreal, this burger joint situated on Boulevard St. Laurent is clustered among a group of restaurants and bars that often see high volumes of people during the week. We were in the area on a Saturday night, so we weren’t surprised had the restaurant been busy, but luckily for us it wasn’t.  Andrew and I were joined by two other friends who indulged with us for this foodies weekend, and we weren’t going to let them miss out on a burger tour experience.

The burger menu had a wide selection ranging from the traditional cheese burger with a local touch, to the most creative inspired by both local and international ingredients. I was torn between two, but since we were in Montreal, I opted for le Quebecois.

Le Quebecois/Photo by Mark Avila

Le Quebecois is a beef burger with Cheddar Cheese, Creamy Coleslaw, Mustard, and Relish. All of their burgers have a choice of a slider size or regular size for a couple more dollars extra. I chose the slider with a side of French Fries and a drink.

Even though I only got the slider, it was surprisingly a decent size, flavourful, and filling. It was an interesting first bite; the Coleslaw immediately caught my taste buds with a creamy and sweet start, followed by a tart finish from the mustard. The beef patty was cooked well and juicy, and the bun was delicate and soft. It was definitely a light meal, but I say my stomach was satisfied. Had I not been still digesting from our previous meal, I would’ve gotten a regular size or even two sliders.

Overall, I was very impressed by Burger Royal. I appreciated that they were able to offer two size options for their burgers, otherwise I don’t know if I would’ve been able to finish a regular size on my own. Le Quebecois was light and filling, and full of flavour that was able to satisfy my taste buds.

Without a doubt, Montreal left us with another amazing BurgerTour experience. I would consider Burger Royal to be one of my all around favourite food joints to check out in Montreal. Aside from the Poutine and Smoked Meat, I will definitely be seeking to return here during the next visit.

9/10

Burger Review #37: Fresh Burger

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: June 6, 2018
Location: Church and Wellesley
BurgerTours Rating: 7.6/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Awesome	Some Drip	$11-$15	Fast Food	Patio, Liquor

Website
 

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Drew's Review

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

How fresh would you like your meat? I think I’ve found an answer for you.

Former financial businessman, Jacques Kavafian, created Fresh Burger in 2013 by opening his first location near his home in Richmond Hill. Kavafian was “frustrated” with Toronto’s burger scene. He thought, “People are trying too hard to be different.” All he wanted was a good old-fashioned fresh hamburger. Thus, leading to him opening a small hamburger restaurant called Fresh Burger.

In January of 2018, Kavafian expanded his franchise by opening his third location of Fresh Burger. With three operational restaurants in and around the GTA, Fresh Burger has attained considerable attraction within Toronto’s burger scene.

We went one afternoon in June to visit the Church and Wellesley location with barely anybody in the restaurant. It was unfamiliarly quiet. The menu is simple. It serves burgers and fries with the option to customize your burgers and upsize your fries.

4 oz. Fresh Burger/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

I ordered the 4 oz. Fresh Burger with a slice of cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, bacon, ketchup and mustard. The special sauce is Mac Sauce/Thousand Island dressing. After the first bite, I was in love. I wasn't expecting something this good from here; the patties were juicy, bread slightly toasted, cheese melty, and caramelized onions oh so sweet. It was a delicious bliss and the consistency was very similar to a homemade hamburger. The ingredients all work well to provide a refreshingly pure burger experience.

The fries are not greasy which makes them great. They are crispier than most places, but still good.

Overall, Fresh Burger offers an amazing burger made from actual, FRESH ground beef, not the frozen kind, because in this “Fresh” world, freezers don’t even exist. After being on our list for nearly a year, I was absolutely thrilled that I gave it a chance. If you're looking for a great no frills burger in the village, especially late after visiting the bars, I would definitely stop in here. Their name really does reflect what you get here.

7.2/10

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Mark's Review

The Double Freshburger/Photo by Mark Avila

We take you back to downtown Toronto, where we visit the neighbourhood of Church and Wellesley for the very first time.

A burger joint that bears freshness to its name, Fresh Burger, keeps the original hamburger alive, cheap, and delicious.

One of two locations in Toronto, the other in Richmond Hill, Fresh Burger was first started in 2013 and has since been dedicated to serve the best quality burgers at the lowest price. They’re proud to serve fresh meat, vegetables, and ingredients daily as they run their stores with no freezers!

The menu was simple with only four burger options. I opted for the Double Freshburger, an 8oz beef patty with lettuce, tomato, and cheese. Additional toppings are available for $1.00. But, I decided to stick with the original load.

Taking that first bite, my mouth was blown away. The beef patty was well cooked and the flavours were well distributed throughout my palate. Taking the burger as it came was definitely a good choice. I was able to appreciate the freshness and simplicity, while enjoying a perfectly handcrafted burger that was full of flavour.

8 /10