Burgers Park — Restaurant in Toronto

Food Quality: 2 Stars Customer Service: 2 Stars Restaurant Ambience: 2 Stars Value: 3 Stars Overall: 2.25 Stars

Upon the suggestion of numerous pals who are die-hard burger enthusiasts, my boyfriend and I decided to pay a visit to Burgers Park today. Nestled among factories and warehouses in a predominantly industrial district, Burgers Park has an allure of an avant-garde establishment pushing the boundaries of traditional fast food. Alas, our expectations of a gourmet experience were significantly diminished, and we found ourselves entangled in a maze of culinary disappointments and service blunders.

From the moment we entered, Burgers Park's atmosphere screamed modernity with a hint of ruggedness, reflecting its industrial surroundings. However, the appeal was superficial, and the cracks began to show as we delved deeper into our dining experience.

First off, let's talk about the main event: the Park burgers (8.99 CAD each). Burgers Park, despite its name and reputation, failed to deliver a consistently satisfying burger experience. There was an apparent lack of consistency in the meat portion size. One moment, you'd find yourself biting into a reasonably hefty patty; the next, you'd find yourself with a patty so thin you'd wonder if it was there at all. This fluctuation in portion size was not just a minor hiccup; it was a significant setback in our overall dining experience.

What added to our dismay was the overly saucy nature of the burgers. It's not an exaggeration to say our burgers were practically drenched in sauces. While sauces should ideally complement and enhance the overall flavour, they were so overpowering that they completely obscured the taste of the meat and other ingredients.

Another concerning issue that we noticed during our visit was the sanitary conditions. Despite the ongoing emphasis on hygiene in public eateries, the staff at Burgers Park were seen handling food without gloves. This level of unsanitary practice was off-putting and raises questions about the overall cleanliness and safety measures in place at the restaurant.

On a weekend, one would expect a food establishment to be in top-notch condition to cater to the expected crowd. But, to our disbelief, for my boyfriend, the men's washroom was out of order during our visit. It's essential for a food place to maintain all its facilities in working condition, especially on weekends. But this was not the case at Burgers Park, leading to further dissatisfaction.

As for the service, it was average at best. While the staff were not outright rude, they also lacked the enthusiasm and promptness we've come to expect from establishments of Burgers Park's caliber. An unremarkable service experience can contribute to the overall downgrade of the dining experience, which was precisely what happened.

Given our subpar experience, we couldn't help but think that even fans of mass-produced, fast-food chains like McDonald's would voice complaints about the quality and service at Burgers Park. Our expedition to this eatery turned out to be a classic case of style over substance, where the restaurant seemed more focused on maintaining a certain aesthetic than ensuring quality food and service.

To conclude, Burgers Park, despite its unique location and modern ambience, has a long way to go in refining its culinary offerings and bolstering its service quality. While it may appeal to those who prioritize style and contemporary aesthetic, or those merely seeking to satiate their hunger, for hardcore foodies in search of a truly delightful burger, it might be wise to park your cravings...

Tried out the newly opened Burgers Park today. The space is very bright, airy and zen and seems a bit like a quiet getaway in the park (hence it's name). The menu is simple with only three burgers (beef, spicy chicken and veggie) and a hot dog to choose from; three choices of fries; two desserts (gelato & cookies); and several drinks (milkshakes, fruit shakes; craft drinks - although craft drinks are not yet available)

I ended up ordering their Park Burger ($7.89), Park Poutine ($5.99) and the Salted Caramel Milkshake ($6.49). Made with local and pasture-raised Angus beef, the patty was absolutely delicious - flavourful and juicy with a good fat to meat ratio and a sweet umami beef flavour. The meat is ground and pressed on-site and then mustard seared; resulting in light airy patties that retain their natural juices while maintaining a springy bouncy texture. The sweet juicy beef was perfectly complimented by a mild cheddar cheese, tangy creamy dijonnaise, earthy sauteed onions and sweet beefsteak tomatoes. The lettuce and house pickles added some crunchy texture and the toasted sesame brioche buns absorbed all the meat juices without falling apart. An absolute divine and wonderfully balanced mix of flavours in each bite!

The Poutine on the other hand, I found extremely disapponting. The fries tasted a frozen grocery store fries and lacked flavour. The housemade gravy seemed like it was made from chicken drippings and was watery and bland. The cheese was still cold and not melted in the least. I would definitely stay away from this dish.

However, the Salted Caramel Milkshake really yummy and super filling. Made from ice cream and whipped whole milk, the milkshake was extremely creamy and rich. I really liked that the caramel was not overly sweet and every so often, I would taste some shavings of salt which made for a delightful mix of sweet and salty.

Overall, I found the burger and milkshake here to be quite good, however a little pricey given its size. However, they do seem use quality ingredients which comes through in the flavour and texture of the food. Everything here is halal and they use locally-sourced natural meats free of hormones and antibiotics. For those of us who are environmentally conscious, the restaurant is also plastic-free with compostable and recyclable packaging. The only thing I found a bit odd was that, unlike most fast food joints, this place has no combos which means everything needs to be...

Was there yesterday for lunch. There was no one in front of me yet I waited over 25 minutes for one burger and a poutine, only to have people who ordered after me be served first. Maybe the food could be made faster if the owner or manager didn't spend all his energies cussing and screaming at an employee in the kitchen with a patronizing tone. The entire time I was there, this guy just would not let up in letting the employee know how bad he is at his job and how he'll get rid of him if he doesn't meet his quality standards. Went on and on about how he looks for excellence. You can tell other customers were getting annoyed - people were leaving before they finished their food or would rather take their food to sit out in the scorching hot sun than sitting in an air conditioned space and be subjected to this guy's unhinged rants.

When I finally get to eat, more orders come in and the owner/manager gets flustered so he continues screaming. Then has the audacity to get his cashier to tell other customers that their food will take longer than expected because he needs more time yelling at this poor fellow who probably makes minimum wage.

Either relieve this employee of his misery and fire him since he supposedly sucks so bad or actually do your job and make burgers in a timely manner for people who pay for it. And maybe look up what being a professional means in the workplace before you designate yourself as some arbiter of "excellence."

And yeah, the food was fine but not so amazing that I'd be willing to subject myself to this second hand embarrassment. I can get an equally good if not better burger at Slayer, Gladiator, Rudy, Holy Chuck, and so many places and it won't come with a side of...