fast food

If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that I’ve had burger cravings this entire pregnancy. Crazy, considering I rarely touch them. But not one to argue with Mother Nature, I’ve been indulging in the weekly cheeseburger, bi-weekly veggie burger, and oh, okay, even the frozen varieties that I order Mike to fry up at 10pm.

So when South St. Burger Co. invited our family to come and discover their goodies for ourselves, I can only describe my reaction as repressed jubilation. With locations in the GTA and Calgary, I’d heard of the company and knew that there was much hype surrounding the burgers, but was hesitant to try them out due to the perception that they were rather expensive. Given the chance to review them, I couldn’t say no.

Who is South St. Burger Co?

Kids and parents alike love a good burger, however it can be difficult to find a burger place that appeals to both generations. South St. Burger Co. sets itself apart from the pack by serving burgers that taste like they are straight off your backyard BBQ and are made with real ingredients that you will feel good about feeding your family. The 100% pure beef burgers (that means no additives, preservatives or filler) are made from fresh, “conscientiously raised” hormone and antibiotic free beef and served on a choice of regular or whole wheat buns. While other burger restaurants often disregard their sides, at South St. Burger Co., a New York Fries company, the sides are respected. Serving fresh cut New York Fries and poutine, as well as fresh cut red onion rings, sides are cooked in Trans fat free sunflower oil. With 25 traditional and exotic toppings including Dijon horseradish, wasabi mayo and guacamole, your burger can be as grown up as you want!

We arrived at the Winston Churchill/Argentia restaurant on a weekday evening at 6:00pm to find it relatively empty; only 2 customers were dining in. The cashier assured me that they’d begin to get busy around 7:00pm, which later proved to be true as the restaurant filled up nicely as we were preparing to leave. I was immediately impressed with the decor of the restaurant – modern fixtures, stylish seating and stainless steel everywhere. Also very apparent was the cleanliness of the place – no teenagers with wash buckets trolling the floors here, just pristine surfaces as far as the eye could see.

As I went to place our family’s order, the frugalista in me couldn’t help notice the prices – with tax, each combo ran about $10 per person. But since the meal was on the house, and I was expecting an experience far superior to the Golden Arches, I gave South St. Burger the benefit of the doubt and let them prove their worth.

I chose the Veggie Burger combo with Red Onion Rings, while Mike grabbed the Hamburger combo with New York Fries. Ryder sampled from both our plates :)

The food is made to order, and hamburgers are cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees. My veggie burger was up first, and I have to say, I took more time looking over the condiments than actually consuming the burger. Ketchup, mustard, relish you say? How about a choice of 2 ketchups, 3 mustards or 4 relishes? And then, do I go for the wasabi mayo? Or the chipotle BBQ sauce with Cajun onions? The taste combinations were endless. Lucky for Mike, he prefers his burgers condiment-free (I know, very strange) so he was tapping his foot at the table while I decided on how to perfect my burger. (Click picture to enlarge to view condiments.)

Okay, now to the important stuff. Before I say anything else, I’ll say this – the meal is well worth the price, and more. My veggie burger was juicy and tasty, and packed a “meaty” punch. I couldn’t deny Mike’s hamburger was one of the best I’ve ever tasted – flavourful, with just the right density and smoky aftertaste. It was on par with a burger you’d order from a bar & grill type restaurant (and likely pay $14.95 a plate for, even without the cool choice of toppings).

And the sides! New York Fries, famous in their own right, provided a perfect complement to the burger (and the serving size was just right). The red onion rings nearly made us swoon; super crunchy, incredibly seasoned and not too oily – I would honestly drop by just to grab these as a snack. You simply must try them. Delish!

All in all, leaps and bounds better than your average fast food joint, and no wonder – the care and dedication taken with the ambiance, quality of food and wonderful selection of condiments makes this burger joint the place to be for the discerning palate. Even better – knowing that the meat, sides and even drinks are made with all natural ingredients makes it a wise choice for the entire family. I’d gladly bring my family here when the mood for a delicious, high quality burger strikes. Recommended for casual date nights, family outings or just because! Lena Approved!

Click here to find a South St. Burger Co. location near you.