Back in January, I had a craving for a burger that went unfulfilled. And so, I swore that I would search for what I thought was the perfect hamburger in Ottawa, figuring that I would take a couple of months and report my findings at the end of March.
I quickly realized, as I ate beef patty after beef patty, that I just couldn't eat enough burgers in a two-month period to make this taste test worthwhile. For me, eating more than two burgers a week is a bit of a stretch (even more than one burger in seven days was a chore). Because of my current mobility issues that make bicycles or treatmills turn into torture devices, eating that much fat was not helping my waistline.
(I swear, as soon as I recover from my surgery, I'm shedding all the pounds I've packed on.)
When I began this search, my criteria was pretty simple: visit as many pubs and restaurants as I could and order a hamburger. The burgers all had to contain bacon and cheese, and usually had the same toppings of lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. The sauces could vary from barbecue sauce, hot mustard, or the house specialty.
But as March was coming to a close, I realized that my scope was far too vast. There are far too many pubs and restaurants in Ottawa, most of which flip burgers. In order for me to take a fair enough sample, I would be eating burgers into Christmas.
I narrowed the scope to look at locations that specialized in burgers. Where the patty was what defined the spot. And with that criterion, I said goodbye to some places that made some mighty fine hamburgers.
The top three pubs that I visited, if you're interested, where the burger absolutely shone, were as follows:
- Greenfield's Gastro Public House, in Barrhaven—generous portion and juicy
- The Barley Mow, in Ottawa South (Bank Street)—all the flavours between the buns meshed perfectly
- The Black Dog Bistro, in Manotick—by far, the best burger of any restaurant that I've ever been to, anywhere
In order of best to best-est, here is my list:
5—Vera's Burger Shack
If it weren't for the fact that I have been to this Bell's Corners joint many times over the years, if I had based my judgement on my past two visits, while I was conducting this search, Vera's would not have made my list. In previous visits, I would have put this burger shop at the top of the list for it's fresh-made patties and its char-broiled grilling, along with the fresh ingredients, the toasted buns, and Vera's homemade sauce.
I returned to Vera's a few weeks later, convinced that the person who had been flipping the burger was simply having a bad day. On my return, I ordered the exact same ingredients.
This patty was better than the previous one, but it still was a bit on the dry side, not the moist, juicy burger that first made me fall in love. Again, the bacon was a bit singed.
Overall, this recent burger was at least as good as I could make at home (I make a pretty mean burger), and taking all the prior experiences I've had in the past, Vera's made my list, but just barely. Hintonburger was knocking at its door.
DW had a turkey burger and said it was the best non-beef burger she's ever had. I had a bite and agree.
4—Burgers & Shakes
I learned of these folks back in the years where my kids were playing soccer (that's quite a few years ago). Every once and a while, their teams would play out at the pitches where Mitch Owens and Limebank roads met, well-beyond Manotick. The one saving grace is that there was a tiny hut that served milkshakes, which we would get for our girls as a reward for a game well-played.
Years later, Burgers & Shakes opened its second location in Barrhaven. While it's in our end of town, it's on the opposite side of our community. But it's well worth the drive.
Nothing has changed in the new spot and after many years of absence. However, in this location, the servers will assemble the ingredients as you pick the toppings. I find the lettuce (iceberg) is pretty lame, and they chop it into chunks, which inevitably roll off the patty as the burger is assembled. It can be a painful experience to watch. (Psst... guys... go for leafy lettuce and shred that shit!)
There's no glitz or glamour to the shop, so my family and I always take the burger to go. And this burger is a family favourite.
3—Bite Burger House
This is probably the most upscale burger joint in the city. From the outside, the restaurant looks like an expensive bistro in the ByWard Market. You climb a half-flight of stairs to get into the entrance, which looks like a swanky bar, with lots of natural wood and hanging lights, and shelves fully stocked with wine, moving to the table area, the lights are low and the decor is perfect for a first date.
But it's the food that brings you back into the world of burgers.
The first burger on the menu is called Bite Me and is my perfect choice—a bacon cheeseburger. The bun is fresh and shiny, and the toppings include lettuce, tomato, and pickle (the latter, I meant to omit from my order).
The burger was perfectly cooked, served piping-hot, and was dripping with juices. It's one of those burgers that, once you pick it up, it's hard to put down. I think I only set it down twice, pausing only to savour the accompanying French fries, which were perfectly cooked—super-crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and well-seasoned.
You would think that with such a highbrow decor, the burger would be priced accordingly, but at $15 for the Bite Me, including the fries, this burger is matched with all the burgers in my list.
So bring your date here and treat him or her to a great meal, without breaking the bank.
2—World Burger
If you're the type of burger meister who likes to take your sandwich experience to the max, this is your burger joint.
I chose the Ottawa Burger, minus mushrooms (I don't eat fungus). I was thrilled with the spongy bun, which was lightly dusted with flour, as it seemed to make the burger lighter. Though the lettuce was a bit lacking, and pale, and the overall presentation was messy, it's the taste that matters, and the taste was everything.
On my first visit to this Parkwood Hills shop, my youngest daughter and I were so impressed that we had to return the next week, with the whole family. We all agreed that the beef was fresh and tasty, and there was enough variety to keep you coming back and enjoying a new part of the world each time.
A sign outside boasts that this burger joint has been voted the best in the city, and I think that that's almost true. And, in fact, it held the top spot on my list until I visited one place that left it miles behind, eating dust.
Which brings me to my number one choice...
1—The King Eddy
The first time I visited this restaurant, in the ByWard Market, I went looking for a pogo stick, and one of my Twitter friends told me that these were the best in the city. And they are. But when you're looking for something more, their burgers far overshadow those batter-wrapped hot dogs
Ground fresh daily, the beef is flavourful and juicy. Even though you have two patties, they are of modest size, but filling. Cheese is between the patties, with another on top, for good measure. And the King Eddy sauce just works so well (I even got some extra as a dipping sauce for my sweet-potato fries).
After my first bite, I almost said aloud, "Holy Sh...!" but caught myself. This is the burger to seek out!
By far, The King Eddy is the king of Ottawa burger joints. Excellent hamburger, great local craft beer, crispy sweet-potato fries, fabulous service (actually, I had great service at most of the places I've visited over the months).
This has been one of my most difficult comparison reviews, and by far the most fattening. I'm now going to spend the rest of the year trying to shed the pounds I've gained.
But at least, when the craving of a burger hits, I know that there are places across town that will satisfy my needs.
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