Romer's Burger Bar — Restaurant in Port Moody

Family dinner out due to power outage. We were going to do White Spot but I convinced them to try Romers. I had a good experience in Kits a few years ago.

First impression; the front door handle is about to fall off, not sure how the manager can use the front door every day and not grab an allen key and tighten it up.

Server was friendly and she took our order. Drinks were quick. Surprised she/ kitchen didn't split the salad up for us that my kids were sharing. Most restaurants would have regardless of price point, but Romers actually isn't cheap as it's a la carte. A burger and fries is about $18. Kale salad was decent, kids loved it. Overly dressed though.

Then the burgers come out. Again, we have to cut the kids' ourselves as they are sharing but no big deal.

My fries don't come but her hands were full so I assumed they were on the way. But when she comes by a few minutes later I remind her and it's clear either she or the kitchen forgot. Not a huge deal, though by the time they came my family was pretty much done and I was trying to hold off on finishing my burger.

Wife ordered the Pad Thai bowl which wasn't great but hey, you shouldn't order Thai outside of a Thai restaurant IMO. Kids split a veggie burger, which was good but the "bun" is awful. A veggie burger can and should still be delicious. A heads up on the attempt at a healthy bun would have been nice. The mushroom burger I had was delicious. I love their brioche buns. Yam fries were decent, onion rings were good, my truffle fries were meh.

The thing that pissed me off is that the busser starts clearing everyone's dishes while I'm still working on the fries. Had she glanced at us before walking over, she would have seen this. But nobody eats when staff comes over but I am chewing fries as she rolls up and puts her hand on my plate and asks if she can take it.

There were literally only about 5 fries on the plate, and if there is one thing I could skip it's a few fries, but it was so shocking I said, "excuse me?" and she asked again, still with her hand on the plate. So I let her take it.

I have worked in restaurants from the age of 13-24, from dumps to mid to finer dining. It's bad form to clear a table while someone is still eating. But to put pressure on a person to take their plate while they are still eating is a cardinal sin in food service.

It's funny that today a 10% tip is considered bad, and I've not left that little in a very long time. But I only left 10% and I know for a fact we will not visit this locations again, which is a drag because I like to support Port Moody restaurants. Most of them suck so it's harder than it should be. Now I add Romers...

Romer's Burger Bar provides a satisfying and enjoyable dining experience for those who like a good burger. This Romer’s Port Moody restaurant offers a pleasant ambiance and friendly staff, creating a welcoming atmosphere, with limited inside seating. It is definitely in the league of Whitespot but the atmosphere and beer selection is better, but seating capacity is less.

The restaurant boasts a vibrant atmosphere that strikes the good balance between casual and upscale dining, leaning on the casual. The warm wood furnishing and welcoming ambiance sets the stage for a somewhat memorable meal with family and friends. The staff is attentive and friendly, creating a comfortable and enjoyable environment.

What sets Romer's apart is their commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. This dedication to quality is reflected in the flavors of their burgers. The menu offers a range of options for those looking for something beside burgers, allowing guests to choose from traditional pub fare, and steaks, to slightly more adventurous creations.

In addition to their above average burgers, Romer's also offers a selection of tantalizing sides and appetizers that perfectly complement the main attraction. From crispy onion rings to savory poutine, these excellent accompaniments add an extra layer of enjoyment to your meal. However, the last time I was there I had a steak and I was not blown away, it was cooked well but the steak quality was average. The time before this, at a different Romer’s, I had a surf and turf “Dineout Vancouver” four course meal and it was excellent. So maybe it was the day.

The beers on tap menu at Romer's Burger Bar are also impressive, featuring a wide array of craft beers, refreshing cocktails, and a decent wine selection. This allows guests to find the perfect pairing to enhance their dining experience or hangout on the patio in late spring to early fall. FYI the patio gets a lot of shade so if it is not hot out you better bring a sweater or jacket.

It's worth noting that the noise levels can be higher during peak hours, and that might not work for some who are going to chat with a friend or a date. A special note, you can get $100 Romer’s Gift cards at Costco for $80.

If you agree with my review, give me...

I had some apprehensions about coming to Romer's, given the ratings that the Port Moody Branch had been receiving fairly mediocre scores on most review sites. However, I gave the place a try anyways given my trust in the local craft brewers promotions occurring in the place, as well as the award won by their other branches.

Alas, disappointment. The selection of local beers was decent, but the options were the more run of the mill. Beers in their craft bowl were largely inoffensive yet had virtually no flavour other than hoppy bitterness. But this isn't necessarily their fault. The burger, however, is theirs. The magic mushroom burger was fairly small, most of its size being from the brioche bun. The bun was great, being sufficiently fluffy and crisp on the edges, but the patty was lacking flavour, and the toppings (the little mushroom, onion, and cheese available) were confined to a tiny medallion on the centre of the burger. Their crowning achievement was the drunken doughnuts. Mini doughnuts are a joyful carnival staple and I felt like it would be fairly difficult to get that wrong. We even got them for free as the management's apology for my friend's side greens (where the green beans were shrivelled to the point of hilarity). I can't tell if these were meant to be compensation or punishment for our disappointment, because the doughnuts were effectively filled with oil. I can't even exaggerate this point; as a test we tried pressing down on a doughnut on a napkin and the grease consumed the napkin, overflowed to cover the entirety of the tops of my fingers, then proceeded to leave a oily layer on the table. Others were soggy enough that they broke apart on contact, as exhibited in the photos. I don't understand how this plate managed to get by quality control, but my confidence in the management lowers with every plate that comes out.

On a positive note, I deeply appreciated the attentiveness of their staff and the manager on duty. However, their level of service does not remotely make out for the disaster that has arisen from their kitchen and kitchen procurement teams. I'm sitting here at the restaurant being physically unable to justify buying another beer further funding this atrocity...