Rosie’s Burgers — Restaurant in Calgary

November 4th, 2024. The first and last time I'll eat at Rosie's Burgers Calgary. I went there this afternoon and ordered a bacon cheeseburger. Apparently they're supposed to smash their burgers? The smashburger preparation method (Google if you're you're unfamiliar) has become a trend in recent years. One of the reasons for this is to help ensure proper cooking. The other is to speed up cooking time. That being said, have a look at this photo. Unsmashed, with raw hamburger! Doesn't this place realize that by serving raw hamburger there's a potential for E coli, causing severe illness, and sometimes death?

Ultimately I hold the ill-informed owner and manager responsible. They need to educate themselves, and train their staff in proper food handling and preparation, and not send raw hamburger meat out the door. How low has the bar been set in Canada that we allow persons who lack common sense and basic food preparation knowledge ownership of a franchise? Don't they realize how serious this is? I don't care how they try to justify it, the owners, management, and staff are not properly trained. If they were, I would not have received a raw hamburger, and I would not feel the need to post here. It's a good thing I was eating in a well-lit area, and a few bites, I noticed the meat was raw. 1 hour later, I really hope I don't get sick!

A word of advice for anyone eating at this place, be sure to to eat your Rosie's burger in a well lit environment! I can only Imagine if someone had consumed the entire thing, it would be a lawsuit waiting to happen! The last time I was served a raw hamburger like this was probably 40 years ago. Time to up your game, or shut it down! Disgusting!

If I was able to give less than a one-star review I would. The one star is because they reimbursed me, and prepared me a new properly cooked cheeseburger. This is a no-brainer from their perspective, but doesn't change the fact they initially served me raw hamburger.

Oh, and what's with the cheese used on Rosie's burgers?Why are you using those horrid American singles? It's not even real cheese, and truth be told only 50% is actual cheese, and the rest fillers. Even the US FDA doesn't recognize it as cheese, but rather a cheese product. After eating the replacement burger, the fake cheese was continuously sticking to the roof of my mouth. You might as well use melted plastic! Utter garbage, and there are many far better burger options within Lower Mount Royal Calgary. Also, the tiny $5 portion of fries packed into an 8 oz cup are a joke. I predict you guys will be closing your doors within a year, because you fail in comparison to your local competition. Either that, or because you wind up poisoning someone.

Edit; November 6th 2024.

2 hours after consuming on November 4th, I was experiencing intermittent stomach cramps, so I called 811 healthlink and spoke with a triage nurse that evening. She advised me to keep monitoring and that the serious effects of e-coli could take 3 to 4 days to manifest. 2 hours after speaking with healthlink, the diarrhea began, every 30 minutes or so, and continued right through the night depriving me of any sleep. The diarrhea continued throughout November 5th, and is not letting up today (November 6th). The Health Link nurse told me that an AHS Health Inspector would be contacting me, which they did. I explained everything to her, provided photos, and my Rosie's Burgers receipt. The Healthlink nurse also told me that if the intermittent cramps/pain become constant, then to go back to the hospital.

Edit - Reply; Bottom line, if you took "food safety seriously", you wouldn't have served me raw hamburger. That's a no-brainer. You made me very sick for 3 days. I've been eating burgers all over the Beltline and Lower Mount Royal neighbourhood for years. The first time I experienced this was at your establishment. FYI, that has nothing to do with good luck, and everything to do with you not taking food safety...

Gave Rosie's a try today and a fair go with a fair result. I can see some potential as someone who hails from a big US city where street food is legendary, Calgary's "street food" scene has been slowly rising. However, two items were noticeably troublesome at Rosie's. First the good... Loved the "Hamburger Stand" feel to the place, and the kitchen being out in the open, you can watch them prepare almost everything. Burger had crispy edges, melty cheese, and soft bun. Toppings were certainly "fresh". Fries were different in a good way, super crispy, and I liked them a lot. Now the "needs improvement". I expect a place with what appears to be fresh ground beef to be of superb quality. Twice I ran into some "chewables" I would have passed on to my four legged friend if they were along for the ride. I've eaten at burger stands where I've never had that experience in 20 years of soliciting, therefore my first experience here for what with tip is a $20 burger, fries and drink shouldn't be either. Second item, and easily solved... fries go four places, in the frier, to the warming tray, in my bag and in my mouth. Don't EVER leave my fries on the counter while expediting, as they are sitting there getting cold while your co-worker catches up. I can't think of many ways to either improve quality by keeping food served as HOT as possible, or ruining the experience with luke warm or even COLD fries. Fortunately they were just from the frier, but this is an unnecessary oversight that probably results from a well intentioned staff member, but in the end, results in a lesser food experience. Want to like this place, think there is room for improvement, but not bad for...

I live less than two blocks away and had been awaiting the opening of Rosie's with great anticipation- they're a small Toronto chain (the new location in Calgary is their fourth restaurant) and I know that Toronto does burgers magnificently, and Rosie's has banana pudding too, so I was excited.

I was fourth in line for day 2 (day 1 being a free burger promotion, and they were absolutely swamped), and I got the version of a double cheeseburger with onions, pickles, lettuce and ketchup but swapped the ketchup for "Rosie's sauce," which is a mayo-based burger sauce; a side of fries, and a large (one pint) banana pudding, and took it home.

After that five or so minute walk in -18, the food was a perfect temperature. Each was delightful, the standout being the fries. They're crinkle-cut and are what I imagine the fries at Sheak Shack are like (just judging by photos, I've never been there); they're delighfully crisp and meaty and just so, so good. The burger was excellent, but here's the thing: a lot of people are commenting on how expensive it is. Yes, $12.50 is a lot for a burger, but that's for the DOUBLE. These aren't minuscule patties and I'm going to get a single next time- it's so dense and rich. I love iyycburg but a patty there is only 3oz so I get a double or even a triple there; this single patty must be around 5 oz. And you get a slice of cheese on each patty- it's a LOT of food. Finally, the pudding was as good as I could've hoped but no more of that for a while!

I can't believe how well the staff were holding it together since it was so crowded and chaotic, so...