Harvey's — Restaurant in Markham

Let me tell you one of the most anxiety-inducing experiences I've ever had at a restaurant. Last month, I went to Harvey's to order their special, two original burgers for five dollars.

In case you didn't know, at Harvey's, you get to order the toppings for your burger and someone will add them in front of you.

A new lady was there to prep my order. She laid out two paper wrappers, and on each, placed a beef patty and bun, fresh from the grill. She took off the top half of the buns so ingredients could be added on top. I went through my usual toppings and started with lettuce. This is where the trouble starts.

She reaches over and picks up the lettuce with tongs held by quaking hands. It felt like I was watching a human carrying the responsibility of defusing a nuclear bomb. The lucky bits of lettuce stuck to the beef, while the unlucky bits scattered around the burger.

Then, I had to watch her do it again for the second burger. And then again, for the tomatoes, pickles, onions, jalapeños and sauces.

Asking for each ingredient was like making a cruel bargain. It was a gamble to see whether the topping would stay on the burger or form a salad ring around it. The odds only got worse as the mound of ingredients on top grew bigger.

She finally put me out of my misery as she added the last toppings and covered the burger with the top half of the bun. She wrapped the burger up, salad ring and all. I knew that when I ate it, that salad would end up all over my lap and on the floor.

While my other experiences at Harvey's weren't this extreme, they were still pretty similar. When I go to Harvey's, I expect my burgers to end up as sloppy piles of ingredients sandwiched between two pieces of bread. Veggies dangle and drop from the loosely packed tower of a burger.

Still, somehow, the burgers end up quite tasty. 7/10...

Slow staff, all of them older women, kind of felt like the lady had a bit of a grumpy attitude/vibe, no customer service skills at all. All the staff moved really slow, almost as if in slow motion, as if the lady was purposely moving abnormally slow, the order took a while to complete, I waited a long time and by the time I got the burger it was room temperature. The burger was sitting under a lamp for a long time. The fries I originally got were old, so I asked for new fries and had to wait even longer. I was really annoyed by the time I actually got my food. Not to mention the absurdly high price, for that price I feel like I should be getting not only better service, but better quality food. I love Harvey's, it is my favorite burger restaurant, not only that but working at a Harvey's was actually my first job I ever got back when I was 16 years old in 2006. This location was absolutely terrible, from the poor customer service, slow staff, and mediocre food, it kinda ruined my lunch break. Definitely don't come here, from reading the other reviews it seems like other people have had experiences mirroring my own experience at this location. The burger itself, although it was no longer at a warm temperature,...

SOY / LEGUME Allergy Friendly: Yes, limited G6PD Deficiency Friendly: Yes, limited

Harvey’s is one of the rare fast food venues that my son has available food items. The grilled chicken wrap, with tzatziki sauce and garlic dill dipping sauce , with apple pie is his go-to selection. I ordered a cheese burger and poutine. My other son ordered the buffalo chicken burger.

I came to this venue today, but was left a bit disappointed.

they did not have tzatziki sauce available.

HYGIENE ISSUES:

their grill cooks do not use gloves and was over handling our food right in front of us at the counter (squishing the top & bottom buns, finger moving the cheese multiple times. I realise grill cooks can’t wear plastic gloves, but the manhandling of the burger & toppings bare handed was a bit gross. They should minimise the touching of foods and use utensils in my opinion. When I asked a senior staff lady, I was given a pretty condescending response.

there were many flies inside the venue primarily near the garbage can. I feel it’s not being emptied frequently enough. The soda machine floor area was also very sticky.

I will likely go to another Harvey’s next time we...