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PORT

Location: 1289 Wharf Street Bay Ridges, Pickering, ON L1W 1A2

Website: http://portrestaurant.ca/

Price: $18.50

What We Ordered:

  • Cheeseburger
Outside PORT restaurant
Outside PORT restaurant
PORT restaurant patio view
View of the wonderful patio at PORT

Burger Review:

I had a lunch with some long-time friends at PORT restaurant in Pickering. Since it was my first time there, I had to try the burger. Their only option was a classic cheeseburger with american cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, aioli and a side of fries. It was good, but not something I’ll crave or make the trip to go back for. The place was incredible, with a view of Lake Ontario and the weather was warm enough to sit outside. The patio chairs were slightly uncomfortable and mine was a bit wobbly, but otherwise it was nice to have a bite outside before winter descends upon us. Plenty of free parking on-site. They’re right on the waterfront so you could go for a stroll after your meal.

PORT cheeseburger
Cheeseburger from PORT

Meat: This beef patty is cooked how you like it. I got mine medium. The patty is thick and they did a good job of making a nice crust on the outside with a pink center. The patty was a bit salty for my liking, but overall it was fine. It was not something I’d go out of my way to come back for.

Toppings: They only have the one burger option and it was definitely a classic cheeseburger. There was shaved iceberg lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, American cheese, and aioli. I added some ketchup to my burger too because that’s how I like it. The toppings suited the burger well. But overall it’s just a traditional burger.

Bun: The bun was really good. It had good structure from a light toasting with a nice soft inside. The bun is always hard to nail, and I think the bun was the saving grace of this burger.

Cross section of burger at PORT

Other Food:

The fries had some kind of olive oil drizzle or something similar and herbs with some nice sea saltiness. It comes with mayo on the side if you like your fries that way. They were really good. We also had the hummus. It tasted homemade, which I thought was nice. But it was not mind blowing. There were olives in the middle with a drizzle of olive oil and some spices sprinkles on. It came with pitas which we shared between three people and they lasted through all of us eating so there was definitely enough to go around.

Atmosphere & Staff:

We made reservations online to sit on the patio near the water. When we goth there, they did have our reservation, but the host escorted us to a table in the middle of the room. I mentioned our reservation was for a water view, and they said they can’t take reservations for specific tables. Which kinda defeats the purpose of a reservation. I have been to restaurants with views who do let you reserve a table with a view. But anyway… other than that the staff were polite. The food took a while to come out but the host let us know beforehand that they were a bit behind. I got the feeling a cook arrived late for their shift or something. The place is stunning with a view of Lake Ontario. Their were dozens of swans out swimming around which was lovely to see while we enjoyed our meals. I do recommend coming here for the overall atmosphere.

Our view from the patio. This is not the best picture since the waiter is cleaning a table, but it was all I could manage as we were leaving and I remembered to snap a pic.

Final Verdict:
3 stars

This burger was fine, but it’s not a place to travel to for the burger. PORT is magnificent and the patio was lovely to hang out on with some friends. So I do recommend you check it out for date night or a day out with your best buds.

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Webers

Location: 8825 Hwy 11 N, Orillia, ON L3V 6S2

Website: http://webers.com/

Price: $15.33

What We Ordered:

  • Cheeseburger
  • Double Patty Hamburger
  • Fries
Webers’ pedestrian bridge erected in 1983 due to overwhelming popularity. The burger shack can be seen across the highway in the background
Looking at Webers from their pedestrian bridge over Hwy 11 in Ontario. You can see the crazy line-up of people and the delicious smelling smoke coming from their grills

Burger Review:

Webers is an Ontario landmark that opened in 1963 along Highway 11 that connects the southern tip of Ontario with cottage country and the major cities closer to the center of the province, like Sudbury and Thunder Bay. Webers became so popular that the ministry of transportation had to put up a fence in the middle of the highway in 1981 to stop people from running across four lanes of speeding traffic to get a burger. A few years later, Webers constructed a pedestrian walkway that became the only privately owned pedestrian bridge over an Ontario highway. I mention this to let you know just how popular Webers burgers are. I have never NOT seen a line up outside of Webers and today was no exception. The line up is so long that young staff members come along the line and pre-fill your order on a card you hand in upon entry. Then they take your cash to ring you up and run in to grab your change. You can see and smell the charcoal grills emanating from the place as you eagerly await your coveted burg. This is all before you even get inside the building. The place is so jumping that Starbucks recently opened up in their parking lot. 

Webers cheeseburger

Meat: Thin beef patty cooked on an open flame grill. They grind and pack their own burgers on site in a converted CN Railway car out back (for real). I’m not sure what magic they put into the fire they use to grill on, but it leaves a wonderful smokey flavor on the meat that is hard to duplicate. It’s a really good beef patty.  

Toppings: They have the traditional toppings of a burger joint and nothing fancy. I don’t think they even have bacon. Their cheese is the sliced processed variety, and the works include a slice of tomato, diced white onions, pickles, ketchup, and mustard. I had the cheeseburger with the works except mustard. The toppings were fresh and had a generous amount of onions and pickles (yum!). They don’t have lettuce, but it was not missed on this burger.

Bun: This is where the burger lost out on the 5-star rating for me. The bun was a soft kaiser style bun. If they had gone with a slightly sweet hamburger bun, like the kind The Burger’s Priest uses, this burger would be a slam dunk home run.  

Webers cheeseburger cross-section

Other Food:

We had the fries and they were soooo good! They were shaped like McDonald’s fries and looked golden yellow. But unlike McDonald’s fries, these were seasoned to perfection with some mystery seasoning and absolutely addictive. I’ll be thinking about these fries. They also have an ice cream parlor right next to the burger shack that serves Kawartha Ice Cream. 

How our food came

Atmosphere & Staff:

Busy! There is no seating inside the building where you pick up your food, but the property is littered with picnic tables (many with shade) and a large lawn. There is also a converted CN Railway car that makes an air conditioned dining area if it’s raining or too hot. You can also hop back into your car if you just want take-out. The staff working the line and cleaning the tables outside are young teens. I’m sure the kid running the ice cream counter next to the burger shack was 13. But everyone is polite and efficient. They keep the line ups moving fast and the picnic area absolutely spotless. 

CN Railway cars and picnic area provide ample seating for hundreds of burger lovers
Inside the air conditioned railway car with my burger buddy husband

Final Verdict:
4 stars

This burger comes really close to a 5-star rating for me because of the unique smokey flavor they get into that patty and the quality of the toppings. The only thing holding it back is the bun. But this piece of Ontario culture is absolutely worth a stop on your Canadian Burger Tour. 

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Apache Burgers

Location:5236 Dundas St W, Etobicoke, ON M9B 1A7

Website: Apache Facebook Page

Price: $11

What We Ordered:

  • Hamburger
  • Fry Rings
Outside Apache Burgers in Etobicoke

Burger Review:

Apache Burgers is a staple in the Etobicoke community and has been owned by the same family since 1969. The daughter of the original owner was even working the cash when I visited. I frequently see Apache Burgers on “best burgers in Toronto” lists, but I wasn’t blown away by their burger. The price of the food was great, I saw a family of 5 get lunch for about $53 including tax. You hardly see prices that good anywhere. The place was busy, and I understand it’s like that every day. And it should be busy because a family run joint serving decent burgers at a great price is a wonderful thing. I think Apache is an excellent alternative to fast-food joints like the Wendy’s that is almost next door. The burger for me just fell a little flat. Maybe because it’s been so hyped up online so my expectations were high. Or maybe because it isn’t really that good, and people only rave about it because it reminds them of their childhood (the place has been around for over 40 years)… it’s kind of like remembering “Adventures in Babysitting” as an amazing movie, but when you watch it back as an adult you realize it kinda sucked. If you’re looking for an outstanding char-grilled burger in Etobicoke, I’d recommend Woody’s over Apache. 

The hamburger from Apache Burgers

Meat: Thin beef patty cooked on an open flame grill. They didn’t have any info about what kind of beef they use, but it tasted fresh. It was a bit chewy overall and I didn’t like the after taste. But it was well seasoned and not too salty.  

Toppings: They have the traditional toppings you’d expect at a burger joint, but nothing fancy. Their BBQ sauce was tangy and sweet and I liked it a lot. I had leaf lettuce, diced white onions, length cut pickles, sliced tomato, mayo, ketchup, and their BBQ sauce. The toppings kinda ruined the burger for me. The tomato was green in the middle and the lettuce was a bit brown on one of the edges. Not as fresh and ripe as I would expect on a burger. 

Bun: The bun was a regular non-sesame seed bun, toasted on the inside. Probably a little to wide for the patty size. It was good, but not mind blowing.  

Cross section of the Apache hamburger

Other Food:

I had the fries and rings combo. The fries were yellow and a bit soft. I’d love to see them cooked a little more to get crispier. The onion rings were generously breaded. They had no malt vinegar which I would have liked. I saw poutine on the menu and the guy beside me was chowing down on it. Looked decent but I didn’t have any. 

How the food came to the table

Atmosphere & Staff:

This place has the deep down worn that you’d expect from an old burger joint with a lot of traffic. The floors are sticky, and you can see in the baseboards that this place has years of use built up. But the kitchen surfaces look clean, and one of the guys came by and wiped down the tables while I was there. They take cash only but they have an ATM. The decor is 50’s diner with the exception of two identical back-lit round cartoon drawings of an Indigenous man wearing a headdress (see below). I was taken back when I saw it because it reminded me of the Washington Redskins logo which is now recognized as being culturally insensitive and are being called on to change their name and iconography. I think the restaurant is owned by a Greek family, so I just can’t place the connection to Indigenous people other than the restaurant name. But I truly don’t know the history of the owners, or why the place was named Apache (The Apache are a group of traditional people), or the origin of the artwork. There could be a great feel-good cultural significant story behind it. I’m not casting any judgement here because I don’t know the back story. My point is only that in the moment that I saw it, it felt very out-of-place in the otherwise family run 50’s diner look complete with neon guitar and Marilyn Monroe mural. If the place was packed with art from Indigenous artists or historic photographs, I would have liked that much better as an homage to the Apache namesake.

One of the Indigenous signs on the wall. The other one is identical but facing the opposite direction so they are looking at each other
The interior of Apache Burger has a 50’s diner vibe

Final Verdict:
3 stars

Meh. That’s what I have to say about this burger. It certainly is a decent, traditionally topped char-grilled burger. Since it’s inexpensive and from a family run joint with ample parking, I do recommend it if you’re in the area. But don’t go out of your way. 

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Boon Burger Café

Location: 399 Elizabeth St, Burlington, ON L7R 0A4

Website: http://boonburger.ca/

Price: $24.25* 

What We Ordered:

  • Beach Party (sub: black bean patty)*
  • Joe
  • Bacun Cheeze Burger
  • Jamacian Me Crazy
  • Nacho Average Nachos
  • Pulled Jackfruit Poutine*
Two of my burger joint buddies, Laura (sister) and Wes (brother) outside Boon Burger Café in Burlington.

Burger Review:

Boon Burger Café is the first (maybe only) all-vegan burger joint in Canada. My sister is a vegetarian who is almost vegan, so it was a rare treat to go to a restaurant where she could order absolutely anything on the menu. I’m a borderline vegetarian myself (I know that’s weird coming from a burger blogger), so I was very excited to come here. The refreshing thing about this place is they aren’t looking to mimic beef, but they are looking to create the perfect burger experience. And they NAILED IT!! This burger forced me to think about what truly makes an excellent burger. For me, the perfect burger combines all the flavour profiles in perfect harmony: umami (savory), sweet, bitter, salty, sour, and spicy. But it also balances temperature and texture to complete the experience. Even though this burger had no meat, dairy, or animal bi-products, it married the flavour profiles in a way that is seldom achieved at other burger joints. 

Beach Party Burger as it arrived at the table

Meat: Meatless. I had the black bean patty which is made of black beans, red beans, lentils, brown rice, onion, garlic, and seasoned with chili, cumin, tomatoes & fresh cilantro. It was absolutely delicious, moist, and slightly crisp on the outside. 

Toppings: There are many creative burgers to choose from. I had the Beach Party which included: bbq sauce glaze, cheeze (no-dairy cheese substitute), bacun (tofu), sauerkraut, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, arch-cut red onions, bermuda sauce & peach chutney.

Bun: The bun was a bit controversial at our table. I thought it worked perfectly with the burger and toppings, but my companions thought it was too crumbly and didn’t ride the burger through to the last bite. 

Cross section of the Beach Party burger with a black bean patty

Other Food:

I was only recently introduced to jackfruit as a pulled-pork alternative and I was surprised and delighted by it. I’ve never been a fan of pork, but I love me some BBQ. So learning that there is a vegan substitute was like finding out Santa Claus does exist and he’s bringing you a new laptop for Christmas. The Nacho Average Nachos were delicious and you’d never know they were vegan (ie no cheese and no meat). It included jackfruit as the “pulled pork” and still had all the trimmings, including what looked and tasted like sour cream on the side and cheese on top. Wes downed a good portion of it until he realized it wasn’t cheese on top. I had the “pulled jackfruit poutine” which was good, but I felt the fries were a bit gummy. I’m not sure why, since french fries are by nature vegan. So it seems weird that they’d miss the beat on the french fries. I had a chance to taste the “Bacun Cheeze Burger” and found it to be too mustardy. If you’re ordering that, I suggest asking for light on the mustard (unless you like mustard – then have as-is).

The many burgers and sides that came to the table. They include a splash of coleslaw with every burger.
Up close and personal with the Nacho Average Nachos from Boon Burger. Pulled jackfruit as the pork substitute. We didn’t even notice that wasn’t cheese on top. It was fantastic!

Atmosphere & Staff:

This place is clean and trendy with exposed ceilings, industrial brick walls with floor-to-ceiling windows, and wood tables. There is ample seating inside and out. The staff was very friendly and greeted us immediately even with people in front of us. One guy answered our questions about which patties and burgers to choose with the savvy and honestly of an expert marketer/salesperson (even though he was a young guy), which tells me their training and corporate culture must be good. They give you an animal as your “order number” – how cool is that?! Every table comes with all the sauces you could possibly need and napkins plus they bring the appropriate cutlery with your meal. This is a place you could bring the kids.    

They give you an animal instead of a number, and then deliver the food to your table.
Boon Burger interior features an industrial vibe with large windows and exposed brick.

Final Verdict:
5 stars

Pack up the kids and hit the road. This place is a must-go on your Canada burger tour. If you’re in the area, go today! I wish I lived closer because I know I’ll be craving this later. 

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Woody’s Burgers

Location: 3795 Lake Shore Blvd W, Etobicoke, ON M8W 1R2

Website: https://www.woodysburgers.ca/

Price: $14.60

What We Ordered:

  • Beef stuffed Gorgonzola blue
  • 50/50 Fries
Outside Woody’s Burgers in Etobicoke

Burger Review:

I was excited to be driving by this burger joint on the way back from a meeting so I stopped for lunch. They use a Canadian hardwood burning grill which is apparent right when you walk in, as you’re hit by the yummy smell of open flame grilling. I got the beef stuffed gorgonzola blue burger. I was worried that maybe the gorgonzola would be skimpy, but boy was I wrong! This was piled high with gooey blue cheese and toppings so I was in heaven (I love blue cheese burgers!). They have a lot of toppings to choose from, and I was reluctant to make a decision between five kinds of mayo that all sounded fantastic. I would say the only thing holding me back from a 5-star review on this burger is the thinness of the patties which makes them overcooked and a bit dry. I know it’s a 4oz, but they flattened it out too much to meet the width of the bun. If they used smaller buns, they could make the 4oz a little thicker (but not as wide) and produce a nicer patty. But that’s my opinion. I know others really like a thin patty, and if that’s you – this might be a 5-star winner. 

Just look at that dripping blue cheesy and saucy deliciousness

Meat: Two 4oz thin patties with no processed ingredients. The meat comes from local farm raised cattle. They do press the burgers fresh on site daily. But I suspect they are using a mold, as the patties come out perfectly uniform. They also have a 7oz patty which may offer a different experience as I imagine it would be a thicker patty (although I didn’t see it so I’m not sure). They char the crap out of this patty but it works well with the blue cheese and generous amount of toppings so I didn’t mind. 

Toppings: This burger joint offers a lot of toppings for free and reasonable prices for premium toppings like brie or pulled pork for $1.95 or less. I had garlic mayo, ketchup, BBQ sauce (which was sweet and sticky), gorgonzola cheese, long-sliced pickles, arch cut red onions, and sliced tomato. The gorgonzola was piled high and so amazingly yummy. 

Bun: Brioche style bun that was flaky on top. I’d say a tiny bit too much bun happening for the thin patties. I can imagine one 4oz patty getting lost in this bun. 

Cross section of the stuffed beef Gorgonzola blue burger at Woody’s Burgers

Other Food:

I had the 50/50 fries, which is half french fries and half sweet potato fries. They looked and tasted fresh cut. The sweet potato fries were really salty and the regular fries were a bit under cooked. I ate about 1/4 of the lot and tossed the rest. They were good, but not amazingly crave-worthy. 

How the burger arrived at the table. 50/50 fries can be seen in the back

Atmosphere & Staff:

I was in line for a while because I was behind a group of friends, so I would say the service is slow. Bring your patience with you if you come at a busy time. Ordering was very awkward, as even a short line up left no room for people to pass by. There is more seating than I see in some burger joints, and plenty of tables outside on a patio. They didn’t seem to have A/C so it was hot as heck but cooler under the fans inside than the humid day outside. They do serve beer so you could sit and drink on the patio if you wanted to. The place noticeably smelled like wood-fire BBQ upon walking in, and my hair smelled of it the rest of the day (which was fine with me). The staff was friendly, and they conveniently had buzzers to let you know when your meal was ready for pick up which was handy. I would say it’s a little too narrow and busy to navigate with a toddler or stroller, although not impossible. 

Final Verdict:
4 stars

If you are into char-grilled patties I would highly recommend this place. My hair smelled like campfire for the entire day afterwards. Worth a stop on your burger tour.

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The Beech Tree

Location: 924 Kingston Rd, Toronto, ON M4E 3L7

Website: http://www.thebeechtree.ca/

Price: $41

What We Ordered:

  • Char-Grilled Burger
  • Fresh Baked Cheddar Scone
  • Grilled Flat Bread
The Beech Tree in the Upper Beach in Toronto. This is from Google Maps because I forgot to snap a pic of the exterior as I was leaving (we got too excited for a clothing sale near by)

Burger Review:

This burger is listed on Thrillest as one of Toronto’s best under-the-radar burgers, so of course I suggested this joint when I was invited to a lunch meeting in the area. The presentation of the food is really beautiful. Each dish comes with its own style of plate. The burger came on this wooden circle with the salad and dip in pretty farm kitchen dishes. It all looked delicious and Instagram worthy. The burger was good, but the meat was a bit overcooked and it was missing the sweetness that toppings like tomatoes, onions, and certain condiments bring to the overall taste. If this burger had a tomato and maybe a richer type of lettuce (like green leaf or butter lettuce) I think it would taste much better. As it was, I was dipping it in the aioli to counter some dryness from being overcooked and I did end up asking for ketchup to get some sweetness and moisture into it.  

The char-grilled burger at The Beech Tree in Toronto

Meat: I completely forgot to shake down the waiter for details on the burger meat. It was definitely hand formed and not frozen, but I can’t say if it’s ground on site or local or what quality of meet it is. It’s like I completely forgot I was writing a burger blog haha. I can say it is char-grilled and seasoned with salt, pepper, and something else that I couldn’t put my taste bud finger on. I’d say it was slightly over-cooked as you can see by the cross section picture below. 

Toppings: This burger comes with thyme aioli on the burger and extra on the side. There is also cheddar cheese, iceberg lettuce, and pickled onions. I was most excited about the pickled onions because I love pickles and I love onions so… pickled onions sounds right up my alley. They were good, but a bit soft which I don’t like in a burger. I’m a textures person when it comes to food so I prefer a crisp onion to caramelized onions or soft pickled onions on a burger. The iceberg lettuce was not the right choice for this burger. The blandness of iceberg lettuce just didn’t compliment the richness of the other toppings. I think they did iceberg because it’s crisp and that makes up for the soft onions. But who knows. 

Bun: Brioche style bun that was really nicely charred on the top and inside. The bun was nice and toasted on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I really liked it. 

Cross section of the char-grilled burger at The Beech Tree

Other Food:

The burger came with a green salad – literally everything in it was the colour green. I could have had chips instead but I find chips and burgers are a weird combo. The salad was just ok and I didn’t finish half of it because it was mostly lettuce with too much dressing on it. My lunch partners had a cheese scone and a flat bread with pea falafels. They were both really good, although incredibly bread-heavy.   

Atmosphere & Staff:

The interior was quite dark except in front by a large open window (big enough to potentially be a door). The one guy who was serving us was nice. There was no one else in the place except two women beside us, which surprised me since it was about noon on a Sunday and this place does brunch in the residential and trendy Upper Beach. 

The interior of The Beech Tree. This smiling lunch partner is my sister Laura.

Final Verdict:
3 stars

I may have gotten this burger on an off-day. It was a bit too well done and the type of lettuce wasn’t the right choice to really highlight the artisan feel of this burger. It was good, but not something I’ll crave or insist on going back for seconds. 

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Mama’s Boys Burgers

Location: 480 Danforth Rd, Scarborough, ON M1K 1C7

Website: View menu at skipthedishes.com

Price: $12.90

What We Ordered:

  • American Single
  • Fries
Exterior of the one and only Mama’s Boys Burgers in Scarborough

Burger Review:

Anyone who lives in the area knows about Mama’s Boys. They serve up burgers, fries, and shakes, as well as a host of other classic neighborhood goodies like chicken souvlaki and steak sandwiches. I’ve been eating at this place for almost 10 years and there was a time when the burger had a Greek-seasoning that wasn’t great and it would be hit-or-miss in the consistency of how good it was. In the last couple years though they’ve gotten rid of the Greek-seasoning and become much more predictable with how the burger turns out. I like this burger as they make it currently. The toppings and bun go really well together and they have some toppings and condiments you don’t normally see at other places. It means you could make some interesting combinations like feta, tzatziki and olives, or bacon, cheddar, jalapenos, and sriracha. Unfortunately there is no blue cheese but don’t let that stop you from enjoying this local favorite. 

The American Single from Mama’s Boys Burgers comes wrapped in foil to keep it warm if you’re getting take out

Meat: 4oz of never frozen premium beef grilled on a flat top. It says on their menu board that they don’t use filler, but it seems to me like they might use a brine. I don’t even know if that’s a thing. The meat comes out almost suspiciously soft and dark brown in colour which you can see in the cross section image below. I like it – but there’s something about it that’s a bit different than just straight ground beef and minor seasoning.

Toppings: Choice of toppings including olives and jalapenos. I got jalapeno aioli mayo, ketchup, honey mustard, green leaf lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles. The pickles are length-cut and the onions are red onions that are longer than diced, but not ring cut. This is one of the few burger joints that offer honey mustard, which I love on a burger.   

Bun: Typical hamburger style bun. I think the Mama’s Classic which is a 6oz burger comes with a sesame seed bun, but the American has no sesame seeds. 

Cross section of the American single at Mama’s Boys

Other Food:

The fries are thick cut and cooked to golden brown. I didn’t ask, but I’m sure they’re not frozen. They don’t taste like they’ve been frozen. These are perfect for sharing because there is no way I can eat all this goodness all by myself. 

Take out included fresh cut fries and my burger had a note that said “Enjoy!”

Atmosphere & Staff:

This place is an eccentric dive. Mama has murals on the walls of a fictional place that looks like … I don’t know… Italy maybe? Flags from countries all over the world wrap around the windows, along with LED lights, and kitschy decor that looks like it was put up for a special event and never taken down. The place has that been-here-forever kind of grease you can see on the ceiling and floors. I wouldn’t call it dirty – just well used for a long time. Don’t get me wrong on the look, I love the place and I’m happy to take my kids there any time. The girls at the counter call me “honey” even though they’ve got to be younger than me. If you get Mama herself, be prepared to have free cake or watermelon offered. If you’re a regular, expect Mama to come over and ask how you’re doing and if you’re enjoying your meal. Enough inside seating that a spot usually opens up even when it’s crowded, although no one will mind if you ask to share a table and there is outside picnic tables as well. 

The inside of Mama’s Boys Burgers is certainly unique

Final Verdict:
3 stars

This burger is good and made to order. If you’re in the area, you should make this one of your go-to joints even if it’s just to support a local family business. 

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No Bull Burgers

Location: 1019 Kingston Rd, Toronto, ON M4E 1T3

Website: https://www.nobullburgers.ca/

Price: $7.75

What We Ordered:

  • Lil’ Burger with Blue Cheese
No Bull Burgers exterior (captured from Google Maps because I forgot to snap a picture as I was leaving)

Burger Review:

No Bull Burgers does organic and locally sourced meat that is ground and pressed daily on site. They have a host of premium toppings starting at $1, like bacon and cheddar. But they also get fancy with grilled cheese buns or fried egg which means you could create an epic monster burger if you wanted to. I do really like this burger because the meat is organic and local. You don’t get that kind of quality at other locations. The price isn’t the most expensive, but it’s not cheap which makes it not ideal if you want to bring the whole family for a meal.  The patty is thin and the bun is a bit too big so the meat gets overwhelmed by the bun and toppings. I still love it though! If I had to fix it to make it 5-stars, I’d make the patty a little thicker, use a higher fat content in the meat, and make the bun a bit smaller. 

Look at that glorious burger with blue cheese

Meat: 4oz organic, local, extra lean, AAA Angus beef. Ground daily on site and pressed so that it’s formed into a perfect circle disk of meaty goodness. They do a light shake of an “in-house secret spice” blend on these burgers but I couldn’t tell what it was exactly (I’d guess salt and ground celery seed as potentially in the mix). I can tell this burger is extra lean but it was juicy.

Toppings: I got blue cheese as a paid topping and the free ones were: chipotle mayo, sweet BBQ sauce, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion. The lettuce is a green leaf lettuce, onions are circle cut red onions, the pickles are ripple cut which makes them thick and crunchy (yum!) and they are generous with the toppings. 

Bun: Traditional hamburger style bun with sesame seeds. It did look toasted slightly on the inside. The bun was a bit too big for a 4oz patty and caused the meat flavor to get lost.  

Cross section of the Lil’ Burger at No Bull Burgers in Toronto

Other Food:

I didn’t order any additional food this time, but I have had the fries and they are hand cut, skin on, fresh and delicious. They do have malt vinegar which is heavenly on these fries.

How the Lil’ Burger came to the table

Atmosphere & Staff:

Always very clean inside and out. They have a few picnic tables with umbrellas for outdoor seating. Once you order your burger at the counter, the staff bring it to your table which is nice service for a strictly burger joint. The staff has always been very pleasant and one of them learned my name after only two visits which I thought was impressive considering I don’t go every week. The atmosphere and staff combine to make it an overall great experience.

The interior of No Bull Burgers is always spotlessly clean and the staff is friendly

Final Verdict:
4 stars

I love that this burger is organic and local. Minor tweaks as mentioned above would give this burger a 5-star rating. I do recommend to put it on your list as a must-go for burger lovers.

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Toronto Zoo

Location: 2000 Meadowvale Rd, Toronto, ON M1B 5K7

Website: http://www.torontozoo.com/

Price: $4

What We Ordered:

  • Veggie Burger
My sister Laura and me at the Toronto Zoo in July. We also had my two kids, my niece, my brother and his girl friend.

Burger Review:

This veggie burger comes from the Caribu TZ Cafe. It was bad. Like Biblical bad. The lettuce was so nasty that I had to pick it off to finish eating it. I only did eat it all because we had walked for 2 hours with another hour to go and I needed sustenance to keep up with 2 kids who were about to have a melt down lest I have one first.  Nothing about this burger worked. The bun was all wrong, the toppings were sad, their was only ketchup as a condiment, and the patty was uninspired. But what did I expect from a food trough at the zoo? 

This veggie burger looks drained of all colour and life. I didn’t even de-saturate the photo or anything. It came looking this sad and awful. 

Meat: Veggie patty which tasted a lot like the Yves patties you can get in the supermarket. I’m pretty sure it’s a tofu-based patty. 

Toppings: This burger comes with shaved lettuce and one sad slice of tomato. The lettuce had an awful taste like it had been in the fridge for too long. I ended up taking off all the lettuce. They had packs of ketchup that I also added on. 

Bun: Kaiser bun was too big for the burger and would have tasted better paired with a turkey swiss sandwich

Cross section of the veggie burger at the Toronto Zoo Cafe. I did not have a knife so this is a bite cross section.

Other Food:

Nothing else comes with this glorious bad boy. 

How the food arrived. The wrapping was too small for the burger I guess? And they only had ketchup as a condiment option.

Atmosphere & Staff:

It is line-up cafeteria style in a zoo with fluorescent lighting, lots of tourists, and noisy chatter. It’s as glamorous and uncomfortable as you’re probably picturing it right now.   

Final Verdict:
1 star

Don’t bother getting this. But do go to the zoo. It’s a lovely place that supports animal research and rehabilitation. 

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The 6 Burger Bar

Location: 3 Chelwood Rd, Scarborough, ON M1K 2K5

Website: http://www.the6burgerbar.com/

Price: $12.90

What We Ordered:

  • Home Burger
  • Greek Fries

Outside The 6 Burger Bar in Scarborough

Burger Review:

This buger is very simple and it tastes good. But it is something you could easily recreate at home. It looks like this restaurant is using the same ingredients you can pick up in a grocery store, the buns on the counter said “Dempster’s” on them, and I know I’ve gotten those myself at the grocery store. The guy uses a small flat top with a press to cook the burger. You get your choice of toppings, including jalapenos and olives. But I’m just not overly impressed with this burger. Would I order here again? Yes, but only because it’s close to home and means I don’t have to cook dinner. Plus the Greek fries are addictive.

Home burger from The 6 Burger Bar

Meat: Handmade patties (but not fresh ground on site) Angus beef. The guy did shake something on the patty as it cooked, but it may have been just salt and pepper.

Toppings: Iceburg lettuce, sliced tomato, diced white onions, length wise cut pickles, ketchup, mayo, BBQ sauce. These toppings were all piled on the top part of the stack. They were very standard and reminded me of what I’d find at a classic family BBQ picnic.

Bun: Kaiser soft bun similar to the ones you’d get in the grocery store bakery department. It was slightly toasted on the grill top on both sides.

Cross section of the home burger from The 6 Burger Bar

Other Food:

The fries are the bagged variety but the guy took the time to cook them right, bringing them up from the oil and tossing them and putting them back in the oil several times before serving. The toppings on the Greek fries are piled high and delicious. It includes tatziki, feta, Greek dressing, and Greek herbs (like oregano). I do really like these fries and will be thinking about them. My hubby got the chicken sticks dinner and said the portions were huge (enough to feed him and the kids).

Greek Fries and take-out from The 6 Burger Bar

Atmosphere & Staff:

The place is tiny with only a few two seater tables along the wall. There is free parking outside (bonus!). The guy running the place (who I think is the owner) is really nice and threw in a free pop with my order. There was an older guy in the back hand making patties while watching The Price is Right. The place seems a little dirty in the same way you’d see at any greasy spoon that is not a franchise or chain. It is best as a take out only experience.

Inside The 6 Burger Bar in Scarborough

Final Verdict:
2 stars


It’s not a bad burger if you’re simply not in the mood to cook. The food portions are generous and the owner is nice. However, you could easily recreate this burger at home so I wouldn’t recommend making it part of your Canadian Burger Tour.