The WORKS Craft Burgers & Beer — Restaurant in Toronto

We tried this restaurant back in December 2022 thinking its historical location being it used to be an old bank back in the early 1900’s and right next to the Flat Iron Building would somewhat assure us a good experience. The service was somewhat slow, the staff not at all cheery, and the bathrooms were disgusting. Now 7 months later we thought to try it again because the burgers were decent and perhaps on our last visit staff were tired from the holiday season? We visited Sunday July 9th and still the same non-cheery staff culture. The bathrooms were worse this time… empty paper towel roll, toilet paper all over the floor, and a disgusting customer made no effort to clear the toilet - and we do not know when was the last bathroom check was. The poutine was the same basic cold gravy as it was back in December… no Quebec flare to it other than the cheese curds. We had to flag down the 3 staff for cutlery, and our bills. Each time we would raise our hands coincidentally the staff looked the other way, so it was hard to tell if it was intentional or not… and the restaurant wasn’t even busy. We left after paying our bill. What’s upsetting is as a customer there was a time the tip you left was a reflection of the service received. Now if you don’t want to tip, you get wicked looks from the staff, so you need to tip regardless… no opportunity for the staff to figure out the service was poor. As well, if you don’t tip or tip little… it’s assumed the customer is a jerk. For us, we just won’t visit this business again. We did tip the standard 18% but had we not, I don’t feel the staff would have understood why. It’s so unfortunate because it’s such a great location with an amazing rooftop seating view of the entire St Lawrence Market neighborhood! I often wonder if staff appreciate how good the location their place of work is. I worked as a restaurant manager for 16 years. Despite my our horrible corporate office, we loved our location and sure let the customers...

Dropped in before watching a movie and honestly still one of the best experiences for a burger.

Atmosphere is best described as industrial blue collar with rustic Americana vibes. Feels like the crossroads of a family dining experience bordering a bar/pub crowd aesthetic.

Food selection is mixed between burger options, vegetarian and "vegetarians, please avert your eyes" with sides outside of accompanying fries. They're offerings are quirky, the War Pig was chosen on my visit. The patty was moist and well done, the caesar salad was crisp despite serving me a brown-ish lemon. With the friendly staff, it was easily remedied.

Other observations, the staff are quite keen to serve an above par experience. Watched a group spill a beer and wreck a burger in the process, they were comped well for it as it was an accident. Actions by the staff to balance recovering a bad experience back to a eventful but good one was wholesome to watch. Definitely while I was there, I felt more compelled to stay as the staff were a bit hesitant on asking for the bill. Though really wish their blender wasn't on the fritz, they were still fairly courteous and honest about their situation.

A worthy meal served by a worthy staff in the heart of downtown Toronto is rare especially with rising cost and restaurants trying to cut costs to remain...

I recently visited The WORKS Craft Burgers & Beer for lunch with my co-workers, and it was a delightful experience. The service was great, with our food arriving swiftly and the staff being attentive and friendly throughout our visit.

We ordered a variety of items to try out their extensive menu. One of my co-workers opted for the Kamikaze burger with stuffed cheese. Although he enjoyed his burger, he mentioned that the stuffed cheese was not as prominent as expected, which left him a bit underwhelmed. On the other hand, the Three Ring Binder with stuffed cheese was a standout. The cheese was generously oozing out, adding to its visual appeal, and the taste was phenomenal.

For dessert, we indulged in the 2001 Shake Odyssey. This shake quickly became my favorite with its perfect blend of peanut butter and Oreo cookies. I'm a fan of both ingredients separately, but combined in this shake, they created an irresistible treat.

Overall, The WORKS Craft Burgers & Beer provided a great lunch experience with a few highlights and minor areas for improvement. The service and some of the dishes, especially the Three Ring Binder and the 2001 Shake Odyssey, were outstanding. I would recommend this place for anyone looking for a satisfying burger and an...