Since certain development projects took out some excellent choices, I have found it challenging to get good food at great value near the Bloor/Yonge intersection. So, when Big Smoke Burger was suggested to me, I made it a priority to check out their hand-crafted burgers at 830 Yonge Street.
I went for what would give me the most meat to sample, the Double Cheeseburger Combo with Onion Rings ($13.45):
The cashier was low on coins, so I was short-changed by 5 cents.
There was a short wait, but a freshly prepared burger is always worth it. The juiciness of the burger indicated superior preparation, but I found the taste to be a bit bland. In other words, the meat quality was good but not superb. The cheese slice was a bit small, so was finished well before the rest of the burger. The onion rings, however, were excellent with their slight hint of sweetness. It was a pity that the number of rings was on the low side.
Since no utensils were available, this meal was messier than average. That itself is usually not a concern, but the washrooms at this location are in the basement i.e. not the most convenient, in addition to not being accessible to disabled persons. I understand about older buildings being grandfathered regarding accessibility provisions, but this is a major negative aspect for operating a food premises at this address, one that I hope was carefully considered when the lease decision was made.
Given the overall quality of the meal, I would consider it to be overpriced. Bottom line: worth considering if one happens to be in the area, no compelling reason to go out of one’s way to visit it. Do consider picking up an order of onion rings if passing by.
Filed under: Restaurant reviews Tagged: accessibility, Big Smoke Burger, burger, burgers, Canada, cheeseburger, food, hamburger, inaccessible, juicy, onion rings, Ontario, overpriced, restaurant review, short-changed, toronto, Yorkville
