Tucking into a burger is much easier during the summer – there’s always the option to make them myself on the barbeque. With the mercury dropping, the smell of charred meat brings me back to the warmer months. So, when I need a burger pick-me-up, I head to Burger Cellar, a purveyor of high quality customizable burgers with a variety of toppings to choose from. Aside from the fixings, the restaurant also allows diners to select the:
- Protein: Black Angus (prices below), turkey (additional $2), prime grade beef (additional $4), or organic bison (additional $6); and
- Bun: the classic soft brioche, whole wheat, pretzel bun, or gluten free.
Surprisingly, the duck dynasty ($11.95) isn’t as heavy as it
sounds. While there’s a decent helping of barbeque duck confit on the beef
patty, the coleslaw, crispy onions, and traditional garnishes helps keep it
light. Don’t get me wrong, with melted cheddar, chipotle mayo, and duck confit,
it is a richer burger but won’t leave you feeling sick.
While the toppings on the angry burger ($12.95) sound very spicy: jalapeño
havarti, sherry peppercorn bacon, crispy jalapeños, and buffalo sauce laced
mayonnaise, the heat isn’t overwhelming. If anything, the peppercorn crusted
bacon is the most sting inducing. I love how the flavours work together and
makes for a flavourful sandwich.
Sides are purchased separately and there are plenty of options.
The tried and true fries ($4.95) appeared as long slices of skin-on skinny potatoes, but on both visits were lukewarm and bordering stale.
Their sweet potato fries ($7.45) were much fresher, arriving crispy and hot
with a side of chipotle mayo.
The Burger Cellar does make excellent beer-battered onion rings
($4.95), each a manageable size with enough coating for crunch but not overly
heavy. Cut into thicker slices, it gave the onion rings a nice sweet flavour so
the vegetable doesn’t get lost in the batter.
During the winter, I like their French onion soup ($6.95). While it could be a touch hotter, the beef stock is flavourful thanks to the red wine and herbs and incorporates huge chunks of caramelized
balsamic onions. Moreover, with the hefty portion of melted cheese on top, the soup hits the spot.
For something lighter, their Caesar salad ($5.95) is always a good
option. The dressing is a bit light on the garlic, but with some fresh cracked
pepper it’s nonetheless a decent salad.
While the menu promotes the house-made flaky buttery crust used in the chocolate pecan pie ($6.95), what arrives has very
little crust and is so flat that it can hardly be classified as flaky. Burger Cellar doesn’t
skimp on the pecans; the nuts dominate the dessert so it’s more like eating
sticky pecans doused in a caramel chocolate sauce than really a pie. I would
have liked a better balance of pastry, but if you love nuts, this is the one
for you.
Winter doesn’t need to be a barbeque-free season. Thanks to Burger
Cellar, I can still get my juicy burger fix.
How To Find Them
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 3391 Yonge Street
Address: 3391 Yonge Street
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Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
- 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
- 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
- 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
- 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
- 10 - absolute perfection!
Is That It? I Want More!
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