Burger Review #22: Doomie's

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: May 8, 2016
Location: Parkdale
BurgerTours Rating: 7.15/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Great	Chaos	$16-$20	Restaurant, Bar	Veggie, Gluten Free, Liquor

Website

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Drew's Review

If you haven’t heard of Doomie’s yet, then there’s no shame because a lot of people found it a surprise when this Los Angeles burger joint was opening up a restaurant near the Queen Street West and Dufferin Street intersection in the west end of Toronto. Not a fairly common area to find a burger joint, but we just happen to be in the west end and thought we might as well give it a shot.

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

I had found this place after a Facebook post came up saying an LA-based burger joint was opening up in the city, and I was quite interested to find out which one it was. The one thing that attracted me to this particular burger joint was because of its own vegan Big Mac creation called the Mac Daddy. Within weeks, Doomie’s Toronto on Facebook was already starting to generate attraction to Toronto’s burger community, and had announced soft opening dates for the first two weeks of May.

This Doomie’s location had only opened about a week before we visited, and just like any soft opening, were only open four days of the week; Thursdays and Fridays after 5pm and Saturdays and Sundays after 12pm. Luckily, we went on a Sunday just before the dinner rush. But when we arrived at 4 in the afternoon, the restaurant was packed. We kind of knew this was going to be an issue seeing how it was only the second week of its initial launch. The process of waiting for a table is a little different from other restaurants; the waitress asked for one of our phone numbers to send a text when our table is ready. We were kind of enough to do that, but what if it had been just a dirty way to advertise and send you all this garbage to your phone that you don’t want? It was a very bizarre procedure, but I can see restaurants expanding on something like this in the near future.

Without having the desire to wait around for the text, we walked down to a nearby Starbucks to grab some refreshers before we ate. It was while Mark was in line that we received the text that our table was ready. We quickly rushed back because we had a time limit of 15-20 minutes before our table became up for grabs. Luckily, we got there with 2 minutes to spare before they were going to give our table away. The waitress walked us over to a small table, and two really small bar stools. It was a small space, but for what it was, I was willing to put up with it.

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The interior was dark with neon lights in one corner and an unusually small kitchen with about 5 chefs in it. There was also a bar to one side, and a rack full of booze for your pleasure. This was an added bonus, but I didn’t feel like I needed a drink that day.

Within a few minutes, a waitress walks over, hands over the menu to us and gives us the spiel about it being our first time and what Doomie’s has to offer. She mentioned that because we weren’t seeing the Mac Daddy on the menu, didn’t mean we couldn’t order it. What they do is they take a double cheeseburger and add a special sauce to it; thus, the Mac Daddy, Otherwise, it’s just a secret to customers who only read the menu. Mark and I both decide that that is what we were going to try. Again, for the third time in BurgerTours history, Mark and I order the same thing.

The staff here were really friendly, so at this point, it didn’t matter if we had to wait a few minutes, or an hour to receive our meals. I was going to be pleased either way. We received our burgers after a couple of minutes and the Mac Daddy looked delicious. This vegan version of the Big Mac consisted of two soy-based patties, lettuce, pickles, onions, cheese and special sauce on a sesame seed bun. But with the sauce already oozing out of the sides, I could tell I was going to need more napkins than what they supplied.

The Mac Daddy (Vegan Big Mac)/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Upon taking my first bite, I picked up the burger using both my hands and opened my mouth as big as it could go. I got a taste of just about everything on the burger. For the most part, you couldn’t really tell the difference between the soy-based patties and a beef patty. This one tastes just as good with a little less grease, and a lot more mess. I was serious when I said it was going to be a disaster. The burger fell apart within seconds and it was hard to keep a grip on the buns. I almost felt bad that we were sitting directly beside a family with 2 young kids who were completely eyeballing us as we ate our burgers. I think that added to my messy embarrassment.

The order came with a side of fries but there are certainly countless other options if you do decide to opt out from the fries. There are also several drinks available to choose from, as I mentioned above, from soft drinks to alcoholic drinks or simply water. After we finished our meals, we wanted to find their “selfie room”, which was located downstairs and had a mirror with various drawings that feature vegan comics. We spent a good 5 minutes down there in front of the mirror posing for selfies and whatnot.

Overall, Doomie’s is, I hope, here to stay and I really enjoyed their vegan Big Mac. It was a delicious delight and a different contrast to what McDonald’s offers. The meal was a little pricey, but vegan food is never usually cheap, and I would definitely return again and try other options on their menu. After all, it’s not just a burger joint, but a restaurant that specializes in all kinds of vegan-goodness.

7.3/10

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Mark's Review

Let me start off by saying that I was genuinely excited to visit this joint ever since it opened earlier this year. What attracted me the most, other than the huge vegan menu, was the Vegan Big Mac. I was on a mission to try the Vegan Big Mac, but reaching this joint located near Queen St. West and Dufferin Street was a mission on its own. Finally, on a chilly and rainy day in mid May, we made the spontaneous decision and visited Doomie's.

Vegan Big Mac/Photo by Mark Avila

And was it ever packed! I was expecting it to be busy, but never did I expect to wait for a table, which was no problem at all. The hostess told us that it would be a 20 minute wait, and that she would call us once our table was ready. Walking around the area seemed no time at all, as we were notified within 10-15 minutes.

Taking our seat, it was no-brainer on what Andrew and I were going to order. Of course, the Vegan Big Mac! At a price of $16 this burger is loaded with lettuce, pickles, onions, cheese, and secret sauce. Since this was my first time trying vegan ingredients, I had high expectations when it came to flavour and texture.

When the Big Mac was placed in front of me, I could immediately tell it was different from the traditional Big Mac from McDonald's. The size, appearance, and the look of the burger patty at first glance looked was nothing close to what I was used to. It was darker in colour and looked pretty firm. At that point, I was hesitant to take that first bite. But, seeing that this burger was our sole purpose of being there, I went ahead and took a huge first bite.

First impressions... it definitely tasted like a Big Mac, but didn't feel like I was eating a Big Mac. My first thought of the patty being tough and firm was on point. It was pretty hard to chew and flavourless. I wasn't expecting anything more since it was a vegan patty, but overall the layers of veggies and the secret sauce made it the burger really flavourful. One critique, however, it was very soggy and difficult to pick up with my hands. I don't know whether if it was the sauce that made it soggy or how it was prepared, but it was a messy beast to tackle.

The Vegan Big Mac was an interesting first taste of a vegan meal, and I was not disappointed. It was a new experience for my taste buds and wouldn't mind trying this burger again. In fact, the other vegan selections on their menu seemed appetizing that I plan on visiting Doomie's again in the near future to try them out. So, if you're craving a Vegan fix, Doomie's is the place to go!

7/10

Burger Review #21: P & L Burger

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: April 25, 2016
Location: Queen Street West (Permanently Closed)
BurgerTours Rating:7.65/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Great	Some Drip	$11-$15	Fast Food	Veggie, Gluten Free

Website

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Drew's Review

The Matty/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The P & L Burger has been on our #TourList for nearly a year, and after much anticipation, we finally got around to trying this burger joint.

Opening in 2013, the P & L Burger has had quite the support from the Toronto burger community and gained a larger crowd by placing a win on the CMT show, “Burger Wars”. The P & L Burger is a side-venture off of a Parkdale restaurant, Parts and Labour, operating since 2010. The P & L location sits on Queen Street West, directly near a Burger’s Priest, Toma Burger Addiction and a now defunct Gangster Burger; interestingly enough, this is where 15% of Toronto’s top burger joints tend to operate. (And now we can say we’ve been to all 4.)

We entered the Queen Street West location on a day in late April, and as opposed to going in the early afternoon, we arrived shortly before the dinner rush. As soon as we walked in, I was pretty surprised to find the space really narrow. The dining area had very little seating room, and had bar stools up against the long, narrow wall, against a long narrow counter. It reminded of the Burger’s Priest at Queen and Coxwell because of how tight the space was for people to place an order, then wait, and wait, and then shuffle through some people to grab a seat (if there is one). Even so, you’re practically closer to other diners you don’t know than the ones you came in to eat with, which to me, I’m starting to grow a fear with.

We quickly glanced over the menu before making our decisions and I decided to go with the Matty. It looked very appetizing and in my opinion, I wasn’t going fully overboard. Maybe it was also because I wanted to say the Matty out loud. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯The Matty came with American cheese, pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard, and all of it placed in between two pressed buns, because that’s how I like my burgers. I ordered it as a combo with a side of French fries and a root beer. At this particular moment, I was thinking, “Andrew, why don’t you go all out and get something the ordinary Andrew would never order?” “Because Andrew, there’s a lot out there that you haven’t tried yet and I’m not sure if you will have an allergic reaction to it or not.” So I took the safe route. Once I placed my order, we grabbed a tall chair, facing a bare wall. In this setting, I think I’d rather be facing a bear wall instead of a bare wall.

After a few minutes of not hearing my order being called, I thought I was losing my hearing. But it turns out it was because it got rather noisy in there in seconds. And so I walked, aggressively, to the back where they hand out the burgers and waited a few minutes longer. By this time, Mark had already gotten his meal, so I was a little eager to get my burger and indulge. Not too soon later, my order was ready and I brought back to the table with me what looked like a grilled cheese sandwich/burger combo with all of the fillings on it. It looked messy, but I was determined to get this burger into my mouth, and it wasn’t going to be easy.

The 'Messy' Matty/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The sandwich was already falling apart before I could take a bite, and most of the toppings ended up falling out of the burger entirely. The buns, which resembled toast, were thin and crispy, and after my first bite, it was a mouth full of delicious flavours. It was like having an original hamburger, and the only difference was that the buns were pressed on a grill and made it a little difficult to keep a hand on the toppings inside the burger.

The fries on the side were a tasty side option, and I highly recommend them when eating a burger.

Overall, P & L was a different experience for me in the sense that I really had a superior expectation about this joint, and somehow, left disappointed. The burger I had was definitely one to crave for and I would certainly get it again, but other than that, the Matty is just your typical hamburger with really no specialties about it. You keep being you, P & L, and maybe sometime in the future, I may get my sense of satisfactory burger cravings back.

6.8/10

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Mark's Review

I say we've ignored this joint on Queen West long enough. P & L burger has always been on our lists of places to visit, but we never seemed to force ourselves to step inside. After long months of waiting, P & L has finally been tagged by #BurgerTours.

We were immediately greeted as we walked in, but had no idea of what to order. They have a decent menu size, so I didn't feel overwhelmed looking over their selection. In the end, I ended up choosing The Castor. 

The Castor/ Photo by Mark Avila

This burger is a beast! Fully loaded with cheddar cheese, peameal bacon, crispy onions, lettuce, BBQ sauce, and spicy mayo. At a first glance, the presentation was a little sloppy, but the taste makes up for it. I was expecting the BBQ sauce and spicy mayo to clash, but they fused so well to create a balanced flavour of spice and tanginess.

There is really not much critique I can say about this burger, everything about it seemed almost perfect.

Overall, this meal was quite satisfying, and I would consider the Pastor to be a new favourite. Among the burger joints that we've visited on Queen West (west of Spadina), I say P & L is definitely one of, if not, the best.

8.5/10

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

Special Burger Review: Marco's Famous

Photo by Mark Avila

Date Visited: August 25, 2015
Location: Downtown Edmonton
BurgerTours Rating: 8/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Very Good	Some Drip	$6-$10	Fast Food	Veggie

Website

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Review by Mark Avila

The Cowboy/Photo by Mark Avila

Flying out to Edmonton for vacation, I was a little apprehensive to go on this solo tour. But I'm glad that I did. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find the best of the best, but doing some research I was able to narrow my choices down to three: Rodeo Burger, Marco's Famous, and the Burger Joint. I based my final decision on distance from where I was staying in the West end of the city, if there was a decent selection of burgers, quality, and most importantly customer reviews. Spending a few hours looking through the menu and reading customer reviews of the burger joints listed above, my final choice was Marco's Famous.

Located minutes away from Downtown Edmonton in the small neighborhood Oliver, Marco's Famous is the Burger Tours' joint number sixteen. And the first to be tagged in a solo review. Congratulations!

Browsing through their online menu the night before, I was delighted to see a nice selection of burgers, sandwiches, and wraps. Even though the wraps looked absolutely delectable, I had to stay focus on the task at hand. Quickly looking through the burger section, it wasn't long until I made my decision.

Photo by Mark Avila

Walking into the restaurant that the following day I made no hesitation on ordering 'the Cowboy'. Since I was on vacation, I decided to go all out on this one.
The 'Cowboy' is a Bacon Cheeseburger with Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Onion Rings, and Barbecue Sauce. I ordered this a combo with a side of fries (other options: onion rings or waffle fries) and a drink (I opted for a Strawberry Milkshake).

Just by the description I was expecting this burger to be huge, but to my surprise it was a fair enough size to be devoured with no problem. Taking my first bite, the barbecue sauce dripped out from the side of my mouth and was oozing with flavor. It wasn't too spicy, but added a nice sweetness to the burger. The Onion Rings were crunchy and not too oily, which I really liked. It was your typical Bacon Cheeseburger, but Marco's Famous definitely took it up a notch by adding extra flavors giving this burger a distinctive taste.

Photo by Mark Avila

My overall at Marco's Famous was quite satisfying. I made it on time before the lunch rush, so I managed to order and receive my food pretty quickly. Along with the quality of service and appetizing meal, I definitely made a good choice by choosing Marco's Famous for this special Burger Tours review. Don't be surprised to see me back during my next visit. Till next time!

8/10

Burger Review #15: Jackson's Burger

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date Visited: August 10, 2015
Location: Yonge & Dundas
BurgerTours Rating: 6.1/10

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

Website

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Drew's Review

The Burgerziki with Onion Rings/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The one thing about Jackson’s Burger is that they are quite active on social media. Posting images of their burgers to Instagram daily, and updating statuses on Twitter and Facebook constantly is one way to draw customers. And that is the very reason why #BurgerTours stumbled across it.

It was through Instagram where the people at Jackson’s Burger interacted with us and commented on one of our photos, and we felt the need to take it upon them and give their burgers a try. I don’t know about you, but it seemed like they were calling us out.

Screengrab of Instagram comments

We decided to go in early August, right after the lunch rush one day and as we entered the joint at Yonge Street, just south of Gerrard, the place was dead. Literally. The only person we saw was the guy working the grill, who gave us no more than a nod as we walked in. It felt like it was closed or just about to close, even though it was only 2 in the afternoon. During this time, Mark and I were able to glance over the menu and decide what to order.

Jackson’s Burger offers a wide selection of burgers to choose from; signature classic burgers or a unique creation which they call “for international lovers.” Each of the burgers on the International menu seemed very appetizing and quite unique, so I was leaning towards getting one of them. The two that stood out for me were the Burgersake and Burgerziki. The Burgersake had battered cod fish on it and sampled ingredients from Japan, while the Burgerziki had a hand-chopped chicken breast and sampled toppings from Greece. I gave one final look before I had in mind what I was going to order.

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

The guy gave a call to the back and then a server quickly came out to take our orders. I went with the Burgerziki as I wanted to try a burger with tzatziki on it. With a quick purchase, we grabbed a table at the back of the joint and waited for our burgers to be made. Within about ten minutes, the waitress/server comes over to our table with the burgers in hand and hands us our meals. She then offers to get our drinks which were in the Coke fridge this entire time while we were waiting, but it wasn’t too much of a hassle.

Giving a look at the burger as I unwrapped the foil, I was alarmed to find the tzatziki dressing and the chicken breast all over the place. In other words, I knew this was going to be a messy meal. So I prepared myself with extra napkins. My first bite I took brought to my attention how similar it was to a chicken gyro or souvalaki. But having it placed between to buns really surprised me. The buns were soft, but nothing special. The meat was chewy but the burger in whole was covered in tzatziki sauce, so it really didn’t allow me to distinguish the flavour of the chicken.

To go along with my Burgerziki, I ordered a side of onion rings to compliment the burger, as I knew Mark had gone with the fries. They were crispy but were lacking flavour. And to be honest, I really didn’t want to finish them.

Overall, Jackson’s Burger didn’t live up to my expectations. I was honestly looking forward to their hand-crafted signature burgers, but I was little dissatisfied when it came to the overall taste of the Burgerziki. Jackson’s Burger has quite the selection of burgers to choose from, but sometimes ingredients that someone thinks should be on a burger doesn’t quite necessarily mean it has to be on a burger. We’ve reached a point in the burger world where quality is greater than quantity and most of the time, less is more. But when a certain place lacks the quality, they fail to meet the requirements of running a well-established burger joint.

That being said, the chicken breast and tzatziki should stay in a gyro and not between two buns. So maybe, if I ever return though, I’ll try their beef burgers and maybe then, my judgement will change.

5.2/10

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Mark's Review

The Burgogie/Photo by Mark Avila

Located just south of Yonge & Gerrard, this burger joint was a total surprise. It's a small joint, but with a lot of character. The interior was plastered with their entire menu from their sandwiches to the burgers. You will definitely not be lost when making your decision.

Browsing through their online menu I was immediately drawn to the 'International Lovers' section. The 'International Lovers' are burgers inspired from different foods from countries around the world. With a pretty decent list of eight countries to choose from (Canada, United States, Japan, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, and Poland), you will definitely enjoy a burger with a 'international' flare. I was torn between the 'Burgersake' or the 'Burogie'. As much as I would have loved to try a Japanese fusion burger on my first visit, it would have to wait for the second. I decided to go for the Burogie.

The Daily Specials/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

'The Burogie', a spinoff from the Polish dumpling, Pierogi, is a burger full of flavour and crunch, but gave mixed reactions. A small burger loaded with lettuce, pickles, sour cream, coleslaw, and potato latkes, you would expect an explosion of flavour right from the first bite, but that was not the case. I was underwhelmed by the lack of flavour from the burger itself. I wasn't expecting it to taste like an actual Pirogi, but I was hoping it would give off a distinctive taste. It tasted like your usual burger with an overpowering taste from the coleslaw. Looking back, the coleslaw was all I could taste. I got no taste from the potato latkes; all I got from it was the crunch.

Overall, it was a decent burger, but I would have liked to have gotten more flavour and that authentic experience of eating a Pirogi. It was definitely a satisfying visit, and this joint is definitely a go to if your in the area. I'll be looking forward to my second visit soon! And maybe I'll give the Burgersake a try next time.

7/10

Burger Review #14: Gangster Burger

Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Date visited: July 21, 2015 
Location: Queen West (Permanently Closed)
BurgerTours Rating: 7.6/10

Taste	Messiness	Price	Venue	Pluses
Great	Some Drip	$6-$10	Fast Food	Veggie

Website

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The Notorious Gangster wall/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Drew's Review

It started out with a tag on Instagram.  

It was mid-July and Mark and I were talking about where to go next. It was an evening when I was randomly scrolling through the BurgerTours Instagram and we had received a notification from Gangster Burger tagging us in a picture with two burgers; the Dillinger and the Pretty Boy Floyd. The caption of the photo said: “Which burger do you prefer?” This was the first time we have ever been noticed in some capacity through social media. I said to Mark, “Maybe we should give Gangster Burger a try…?” Mark agreed.

We decided to go on a Tuesday afternoon and it was an hour after the lunch rush and there was only one other person dining when we arrived at the Queen West location. Right at that moment, I knew we were going to be treated like valued diners. Looking around, there were only three bar stools along the wall. The other wall is a collage of notorious “gangsters”; faces, articles and names of famous criminals. It was a fairly small burger joint and probably the smallest we’ve eaten at to this day.

The Pretty Boy Floyd/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

We were quickly greeted by the gentleman behind the counter and, without hesitation, asked if this was our first time. We responded, “Yes” and he read out the most “notorious” burgers named after their famous Gangster counter-part. One of the burgers listed on the menu was “El Chapo”, named after the infamous Mexican drug lord. Even though this seemed like a really good option to try, Mark and I agreed we were going to order the burgers in the picture we were originally tagged in. I decided to go with the Pretty Boy Floyd. It had lettuce, tomato, ‘gangster goo’ (spicy ketchup), and topped with mac & cheese. Yes, mac & cheese. It sounded like it was going to be a combination of two of my favourite foods.

In addition to getting the burger, we were informed the burger alone wasn’t part of a combo and we had to pay for fries separately. At the time of our meal, there was only Diet Coke in the fridge to drink. It was a little dissatisfying, so we just agreed to get a side of fries each. To go along with the fries, the gentleman gave us four different types of dips for our fries. The first was garlic aioli; the second was nicknamed “blue magic”, and was a secret creation; the third was spicy ketchup aka "Gangster Goo"; and the fourth was jalapeño ranch. (I still question to this day whether he was aware of whom we are or if he just treated us like we were your typical everyday customers.)

Within a few minutes, our burgers were ready and fresh off the grill. I unwrapped the foil and there sat a huge burger with the mac & cheese pouring out of it. It was literally stuffed and looked like it was full of flavour. I could not wait to eat it. I tried to wrap my hands around it, but my first attempt was a failure. I tried a second time and I picked it up and lifted it toward my mouth. The mac & cheese began falling out and I tried to extend my mouth around and take a huge bite. The taste was one big colossus mashup of burger meat meets mac & cheese. It was so good, and so cheesy that I literally ran out of napkins after my first bite. There was also a slight sting to the flavour and that was coming from the spicy ketchup spread nicely on the bun. It was right after that bite I looked over to Mark and said, “We’re going to need drinks after this.”

French Fries with 4 separate dips/Photo by Mark Avila

After a couple of more bites, the burger was gone in a flash. The mac & cheese controlled most of the flavour of the burger. It’s something you don’t normally think to put on a burger but somehow it worked. The spicy ketchup was also a nice addition to the burger and added the extra sting the burger needed. I was surprised because after finishing that burger, I still had a bit of room for the French fries. And there sitting beside the French fries was the four dips we were requested in trying. The first dip, the garlic aioli was a little tangy, and almost tasted as if it would go well with a pizza crust; to bland for my tasting. The second dip was the blue magic and was a little hot and had a little kick to it, but was missing something. The third dip was the spicy ketchup, and because I already had this on my burger, the taste of spicy ketchup was still lingering in my mouth. So maybe, I thought, the fourth dip might be a little surprise. And it was. It was the jalapeño ranch that had the right spiciness and the right amount of flavour that went well with the French fries. I don’t know what it was, but the jalapeño ranch had something that the other dips lacked and that was the right amount of everything.

Overall, despite there not being any drinks to choose from other than Diet Coke, the meal was beyond expectations. The gentleman behind the counter was really friendly and he catered us as if we were special guests. It was beyond exceptional service. In a way, Gangster Burger really surprised me. From the delicious selection of burgers to the gangsters each burger is named after, Gangster Burger sure knows how to bring out the bad side in everyone. And maybe, Toronto doesn’t just need a hero or a priest all the time. Maybe all Toronto needs is a gangster with a good reputation.

7.2/10

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Mark's Review 

The Dillenger/Photo by Mark Avila

Thanks for the shout out Gangster Burger! You called us out and now we're responding with a promising review.

The Gangster Burger motto is a "burger you can't refuse" and we definitely didn't turn down what was offered to us. As soon as we stepped inside the restaurant, we were greeted almost immediately. We were asked if we've ever been to Gangster Burger before, the answer was no. But, that didn't stop the person serving us to go through the entire menu to help make our decision. Of course, we already knew what we wanted, but the extra effort made that first impression even more special.

When Gangster Burger tagged us in an Instagram post of two of their signature burgers, 'The Pretty Boy Floyd', and 'the Dillenger', we made sure those were the ones we would try. I opted for the Dillenger.

When we placed our order, we were told that we couldn't get the combo since there were no drinks available, except for Diet Coke, which we kindly refused. So we just paid for the burger and fries separately. In total, the meal came up to less than $12.00.

French Fries w/ 4 separate dipping sauces/Photo by Andrew Hockridge

Speaking of the fries, we were given the option to try two of their signature sauces, but instead got offered four sauces in total. We were given: the Garlic Aioli, Blue Magic, Spicy Ketchup, and Jalapeño Ranch. I was torn between the Chipotle Ranch and the Blue Magic. But if I had to choose between one, the Blue Magic is definitely the winner. It had a light consistency to it that gave it a smooth and neutral taste compared to the others, which gave the fries a distinct flavour.

Anyway, back to the burger. The Dillenger is a burger like no other. It's a towering burger layered with a 6oz. beef patty, caramelized onions, dill havarti, chipotle mayo, spicy ketchup, bacon, and topped off with lettuce and tomato. Unwrapping and seeing it for the first time, I thought to myself, how on earth was I going to get around eating this thing or even finishing it. It was huge! Taking that first bite, I was immediately slammed by the spiciness from the Spicy Ketchup. And with that particular day being very hot and humid, I was already feeling the sweat come down my sides. I found the burger to be very balanced in flavour with all the ingredients being represented equally in taste. The dill havarti and chipotle mayo was a perfect combination that gave the burger a smooth and hearty taste. However, I found the Spicy Ketchup to be a little too over powering, to the point that it was all I could taste.

Overall, The Dillenger was very filling and flavourful. I would definitely have it again another time. My overall experience at Gangster Burger was satisfying. I appreciated being greeted right when we walked in, and being guided through the menu. You rarely get that nowadays and that definitely gave a lasting impression. From the service to the burgers, Gangster Burger is definitely a place to go to for a filling and satisfying meal.

8/10 

Andrew (left) and Mark (right) #BurgerTours at Gangster Burger, July 21, 2015