Hamburgers are quick, satisfying, and great for students on a budget. Usually a staple at fast food restaurants, hamburgers have now become quite the delicacy. When originally introduced, their presentation was quite standard—as were the toppings. Nowadays, however, various restaurants have re-vamped the standard hamburger to include a diverse array of toppings from tomatoes to avocados to pineapples and even fried balls of cheese! Not only has the choice of toppings expanded, but these gourmet burgers are no longer strictly made of beef. Many restaurants now offer lamb, bison, and vegetarian patties, as well as many other options.
A burger, regardless of the meat used, should be judged by 4 factors.
The first, and most important, is how well the meat is prepared. Is it juicy or dry? Is it seasoned? Is it over-cooked, under-cooked, or just right? (Personally, I believe that it should prepared medium—no more, no less)
The second factor that should be considered is the bread. Is the bread-to-bun ratio appropriate? Is it too soggy or toasted just right? Are there black poppy seeds? (Yes, this makes a difference in flavor—trust me!)
The third factor includes toppings. Are the standard toppings—lettuce and tomatoes—included? Is the bacon actually crispy? Are you provided with sufficient options for additional toppings? In terms of prepared burgers—do the toppings blend well together or are there overpowering elements?
Finally, the fourth factor is the burger on a whole. Overall, despite some mishaps (if any), is it satisfying? Is it too messy? Does it fall apart on the second bite?
Finding the best burger, or the best of anything for that matter, is quite the task to undertake. When I began this article, I initially planned on only including five restaurants. However, after a quick poll among friends, I decided that including a slightly longer list of restaurants would be more beneficial as it may appeal to those of differing tastes and preferences. The following list includes restaurants that are known for their gourmet burgers, but I have also included those that are not. Considering that one’s dining experience is extremely important in the restaurant business, I have made sure to include information on service within the reviews. I have decided to limit the list to 13 restaurants, partly because a 10-page article may be too long to maintain a reader’s interest but also because bikini season is coming up!
While I have yet to find the ultimate burger in Montreal, I have come across some pretty good burgers. So for your next restaurant trip to satisfy your burger fix, you may want to consider one of the following:
