Burger Barn — Restaurant in Thunder Bay

Wow! Wow, wow, wow!

We don't go out to eat much, and when we do, we're usually pretty disappointed (I'm looking at you, Mr. Sub).

Yesterday, my partner was craving a burger and didn't want to go to McDonald's (again), so he suggested we give Prospector Burger Barn a try. After being disappointed multiple times with other restaurants in T-Bay, I was hesitant but willing.

I'm so happy we ate here!

Burger Barn's menu is pretty simple. They only have something like eight or nine varieties of burger on their menu, a handful of different sides, and (if you order in-house) some of the best milkshakes I've ever tasted. This is, I think, one of the secrets to Burger Barn's success: you don't have to do everything...you only need to do a few things, and do them REALLY WELL.

I would like to know whose decision it was that the cashier should call out "TIPPER!" in response to those who tip (and the rest of the staff call back together with "THANK YOU!"), because this idea is BRILLIANT. Think about it. Nobody is obligated to tip, but by identifying those who do (and getting a group "Thank you!" in return) is its own sort of reward/dopamine hit for the tipper. The staff obviously appreciate it (more money for them), and the tipper can appreciate being thanked by a team who's clearly working hard to make some of the best burgers I've ever had. As I said to my partner as we ate, my only regret was that I only tipped 15%.

The burgers themselves are not terribly pretty, however it's clear Burger Barn uses quality ingredients (and if I'm not mistaken, I think they bake their buns in-house), because they are incredibly flavorful and very filling. One fun observation: they have a big-screen TV in the restaurant that shows pictures of the burgers they make, and these are not glamor shots, folks. These are shots of the burgers as they would be served to you. It's very much a what-you-see-is-what-you-get mentality, and I gotta say, I dig that. I dig that a LOT (plus they serve Pepsi, which is an automatic 150-point bonus from me).

The restaurant itself is reasonably clean, which is no easy feat considering we're still dealing with winter weather and sand (so much sand...), the staff are all very friendly and helpful, and like I said, the food is incredible. Usually when I'm really hungry and I eat out, my blood sugar spikes and I get really cranky for about an hour or two afterward. I say without exaggeration that I was in one of the best moods I've been in since moving here 18 months ago, and this mood lasted for HOURS after eating (I'm still fairly content a day after). What's in that secret sauce? :D

I'm so glad we discovered you, Burger Barn! We'll definitely be back! And like you thanked me for tipping, I must thank all of you for making our entire experience an overwhelmingly...

This isn't the first time I've had issues with Burger Barn. They have forgotten food in our drive thru orders, missed items entirely, once I accidentally tipped 74$ on a 34$ meal and the cashier said nothing. It was of course my error but if I was the server I would have checked there was no mistake.

Two days ago I went in with my kids because they wanted to go there and I received my falafel burger with mold holes on the lettuce. Actual black mold eating the lettuce. It wasn't even hidden in the burger - this giant lettuce leaf being decimated by mold and it was hanging clearly out of the bun, hadnt even been bent when they wrapped it. I was so grossed out. Their food prep person actually put this on my sandwich and served it to be eaten like that.

I immediately asked for my money back on the sandwich. While the (manager?) Was trying to figure out how to refund my sandwich plus the cheese I ordered for it I had the 3 kitchen staff just staring at me from the kitchen like I had done something wrong.

The manager came over, stated he was refunding me "a little extra" for the inconvenience. What he in fact refunded me was the sandwich, the cheese slice and the tip I gave. Thanks for not making me tip you for this. I appreciate it.

The quality here has gone so down hill ive actually told my boys I refuse to take them here any more. The poutines don't have curds any more, the fries are greasy garbage and the service is a joke.

What a shame on a place that was once our...

My husband and I had the cheesy bacon burger special 7.99 , with 2 poutines and a pop total came to 30.49 ... We ended up "Tipping" 1.00 to see what would happen and also because if you don't "tip" everyone knows the staff and customers which we find really weird for a fast food joint and more like a "tip" trap to us.

We asked for xtra pickles and we didn't get that, burgers were cheesy but dry we asked for mayo, mustard, but really seems like they lack on the toppings, beings we gave a "tip" you would think our order would be spot on.

As far as the burgers go .... were sorry but the meat is horrible, the patties literally if you look at them turn to mush like patè very weird , I tasted the burger by itself just the meat no bun and really has no burger meat taste , no bbq taste either seems to be a lot of filler why else would a burger be like that? Tasted really bad. We have never had a burger with no texture or taste like that, tasted more like water ... just weird..

Very disappointing as it was our first visit here and it will be the only visit ...poutine was good as to be expected for the price, thank goodness we could at least eat that.

Tables and door handles in the place were dirty and sticky, staff...