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Went last night. The burgers were not overcooked or dry, in fact some of ours had pink in the middle, although I suspect that was a mistake!
Unfortunately the beef patties at least seemed completely unseasoned, you really need the toppings for flavour.
Service was great. We'll be back because my kids liked it, although the kids' meal burger is quite small, not enough food for my one kid who does not like potatoes so won't fill up on the fries.
For the four of us with 2 pints - $60. Perceived value will be better if you have young kids because of the kids' meals with drink & dessert, but I would not want to feed teens here.
That block was lacking a sit-down family restaurant and given all the
marginal businesses along there - I feel we (the immediate hood) could have done worse. Of course we could have done better, but I hope like with Starbucks better things will follow.›1 Reply -
I've been following this thread with sadness. The Works in Ottawa was AWESOME. Sounds like the move to a franchise system hasn't gone very well :(
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re: CanadaGirl
Not sure if it really hasn't gone well, CanadaGirl, or if the few complainers are prone to post their reviews ;)
Not that I'm defending the place, but I think with any reviews on Chowhound, one has to take it with a grain of salt.I haven't tried any GTA locations of The Works yet, but last saturday, I was at the one in Guelph, and thought the food was excellent, just as good as the ones I have tried in London and Kingston. It's not gourmet, but for a sit-down burger restaurant, I can't think of anything better in Canada that I've tried. (Then again, I am keen to try the burger at Stack BBQ on Yonge near Lawrence - I really liked their ribs)
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re: FresserGuy
meathead2
May 29, 2012 03:21 AM
I support your comments FresserGuy. We all like salt, and sometimes if we can take a step back and reflect, we can remember that this board is one of opinions and comments. The diversity that is Canada is one to cherish, and one to refelct upon, not unlike comments posted to this board. I have been to several locations of The Works, and while they are not cookie cutter relections of each other, and at times the service has needed work, they are what they proclaim themselves to be - a fun, interesting restaurant chain, with time a efforts being made to keep it that way, that offers a great deal of choice and uses quality ingredients to get the best tasting food onto the plates and into my belly. I too bemoan the fall of grace of Lick's as it is, in my opinion offered here on this board, a faint shadow of what once was, and it is only too easy to blame the "curse of franchising" as the cause of the fall.
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I went to the oakville location, we got warned for the time and it was expensive but I had the turkey burger and I have to say I really enjoy it, the burger tasted like real turkey. I would go again, it was worth it to me.
I found it amusing the menu has two pages dedicated only to toppings combo for the burger and came with the server giving us a tutorial on how to use it (like, I found out you can change some things on the burger with no charge), I would suggest to go at least once for the experience.
(I want to try the hunka hunka burger - banana, peanut butter and bacon. just because it is there) -
TorontoTuna
May 23, 2012 02:49 PM
Why anyone on or near the Danforth would not have I.M.O. the best patty in town at Allen's at the best patio around sort of amazes me. Licks is the worst burger in town just ahead of Harvey's mystery meat and my experience with The Works in Oakville, on a Tuesday evening with only a handful of customers...dry burgers, fall-apart buns, cold fries and a waitress who couldn't stop texting, turned me off of this place forever. I'd rather share a can of Spam in a back alley with a pack of strays. Square Boy at least has the old Saturday Night Live riff still going for it..."Cheeseburger - Cheeseburger- Cheeseburger"
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My recent experience...
We went on Sunday night of the long weekend, and were seated right away. It's bigger than I thought it was with the front room (visible from street) an elevated area toward to the back. We were seated in the galley by the bussing station so it wasn't great.
They were busy and our server did her best. We started just with pop to drink, which comes in measuring cups. Not sure what that's all about.
We were interested in the starters but weren't hungry enough for them. I ordered the "After Works" (garlic, tomato, feta, olives, wilted spinach) on the turkey patty with no bun, and the side salad. Partner ordered the "Three Ring Binder" which includes 3 onion rings and various cheeses and sauces on a standard beef patty. I have to admit the variety of toppings and the choice of patties is overwhelming but welcome.
It takes 20 minutes for the burgers to arrive, but they warn you. I've ordered no bun at Shake Shack and Burger's Priest, where they wrap your whole patty in a lettuce wrap instead, but here it was just served on one wilted piece of Boston. The topping was yummy but it was luke warm and the patty was dry and uninteresting (I chose turkey over chicken breast because thought it would be more seasoned...nope). The side salad was a mixed green with two cherry tomatoes, two slices of cuke, and shredded carrots and raw red onion. McDonalds makes better. Partner liked his burger well enough, and the fries (thicker, skin-on cut) were yummy.
I finished with a shake (when in Rome) - they do vanilla ice cream and you can choose your mix-ins, so I did oreo and butterscotch. Holy yummy, but 16oz (the standard size) was too much for me. Next time, kids size.
Overall it was a decent experience. I'd go back because I want to try more and I live walking distance and there's not much decent sit-down non-Greek food nearby.
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Baelsette
May 4, 2012 10:33 AM
Really that`s shocking. Funny, I ordered off the kids menu for my toddler yesterday and her burger was pink inside which is a no no...... I`m really shocked and disappointed to hear that.
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re: Baelsette
Really wanted to like this place - so close to home and all but what a huge disappointment.
The good - the staff are a bunch of pleasant, keen and eager kids. Very upbeat and trying their best.
The food is lousy. Worst burger ever!!
Mr MG had a basic bacon cheeseburger and me being on a diet, ordered the veggie burger. The waitress said their veggie burgers were "really good". Wouldn't have mattered much because both were almost unedible. Extremely overcooked and over seasoned.
Not only that - everything arrived to our table stone cold. It doesn't help that they serve things in stone cold metal tins.
Crappy ceasar salad - a few torn limp lettuce leaves in a wierd kind of dressing with fake shredded cheddar cheese. A 3 very enormous triangles of toast. What a joke. Even Pizza Pizza does a better job of it. How uninspired.
Onion rings were the best part of the meal - which for the most part we left behind.The bill was $41 for 2 burgers and one onion rings. Highway robbery and a total rip off.
Speaking of rip offs - I was asked what side I would like to which I replied ceasar salad. On the way home I noticed we were charged 2.09 for same ceasar.I asked Mr MG not to complain or say anything - because I felt it would fall on deaf ears and what would be the point really - the kids seemed so keen and all - and there didn't seem to be an owner/manager in view so I just wanted to get out of there at this point. Didn't really matter because we were never asked anyway.
They advertise 70 burgers. The basic cheeseburger has been named The Ho Hum - you can say that again!!
Actually it was a downright depressing experience.
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Baelsette
May 3, 2012 10:32 AM
Free lunch at the works today. They officially open tomorrow but were giving away free lunches today and asking people to make a donation to the Pape st. food bank.
Went in, place looks great, you would never know it used to be Pastis, totally and complete overhaul. Very loud but good great music playing. Very kid friendly.
Service was very friendly and accommodating. Food took a LONG time, 1 hr! I can't fault them though as it's the first day. Wait staff was very apologetic.
Burger was good, had a spicy burger with jalapenos, sour cream and avocado. Only complaint was that they didn't ask how I wanted the burger done, nor did I specify. Burger came quite well done. Next time I will know! Had onion rings as a side, were nice and crispy and served with a mayonnaise type sauce.
Menu is enormous and a little daunting.....
I will definitely go back, nice to have this option so close to home.›2 Replies -
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re: Baelsette
Here's the menu for the Guelph location: http://worksburger.com/Menus/OurNewMe... I can think of much better ways to spend 50+ bucks!
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Blech. The search for the perfect burger continues. We had lunch at the Guelph location today. The first thing that shocked us were the prices: over $9 for a tower of onion rings and a minimum of over $11 for a burger (the prices increase with the number/choice of toppings).
Being a breaded onion ring lover, and reading on the menu that burgers take at least 20 minutes to cook (!!!), we ordered the rings as soon as we sat down. They were okay, not greasy, decent breading, but not amazing. We waited and waited for our burgers, probably longer than 20 minutes.
I had intentionally ordered a rather plain burger -- just cheddar, raw onion and tomato -- to be able to judge the burger on its own merit rather than its toppings. When we ordered, we asked if they'd make them to order, i.e., at least on the pink side in the middle. Our server responded that their burgers are a bit pink in the centre but are well done. Umm... not a good omen.
The char-grilled (the only option) patties were quite thick; not sure of number of ounces since it's not indicated on the menu. I took a taste of the patty on its own before biting into the burger and there appeared to be no seasoning at all on the meat. I'm not a fan of weirdly spiced burgers, but some salt and pepper would have been appreciated. Not much flavour there.
Unfortunately, my visions of a juices-dripping-down-the-arm burger quickly evaporated. This was one of the driest hamburgers (and not the slightest hint of pink inside) I've ever had. Couldn't - and didn't want to - finish mine, nor did my husband finish his.
Burgers come with a choice of potatoes, with other options available at a hefty premium. We ordered the sweet potato fries and the regular fries. The sweet potato fries were pretty good; the regular fries were quite dry and mealy. I'd also ordered a chocolate milkshake; again, no flavour (I'm quite sure there was no chocolate syrup in there) and weirdly thick and unappetizing as served in a one-cup measuring cup. Took one sip and left it; our server made no mention of this...
The bill for two burgers, a tower of onion rings, one beer, and one kid-sized chocolate milkshake came to $52 with tax, before tip. Not planning to return.
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re: CanadaGirl
Just curious, CanadaGirl, are the burgers you get in Ottawa pink inside and juicy or dry like mine was, with nary a drop of "juice" spilling onto my plate? I doubt that the prices are any lower in Ottawa...
I also don't think the Guelph location was having an off day; judging by the reaction of our server at the end of the meal (when I complained about the dry, overcooked burger), and the fact that she told us initially that "they ARE well done," this is how they always cook their hamburgers.
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re: Tatai
The ones I've had weren't pink, as I don't like them that way, but they were not dry either. I have had burger juice over my hands often!! We did have a bad experience once with dry burgers in a newly opened location, but it was fixed when we returned. If the server didn't see a problem, maybe the quality at this location isn't quite up to par. Too bad. The rings don't sound quite right either. We have them often an have never waited 20 minutes (!!) for them. They've always been very tasty, but definitely on the greasy side, although not enough for us to mind.
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re: CanadaGirl
I have eaten at the oakville location 3 times.The burgers were always very juicy and tasty.The fries were also good,not dry.We also liked the onion rings.I prefer battered onion rings but I like the works breaded onion rings are good.My son and I also liked their milk shakes.We all thought it was unusual and different to have drinks in measuring cups and light bulbs as salt and pepper shakers.I also tried the ground turkey and it was good but the beef burger is better.My friend had the veggie burger.She said it was really good.
We also really liked organic big burger and hope they re-open somewhere close.
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Lazar
Jan 26, 2012 12:40 PM
Interesting to see if the can capture the popularity they enjoy in the 'Twa.
Personally I think that they may have an uphill battle as there are quite a few comparable, well established burger joints in the city that are not terribly far away, but then again, there really isn't anything like this on the Danforth anyway (at least not as far as I am aware)...
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re: Lazar
I've been wondering when the burger trend would hit the Danforth. It's oversaturated just about everywhere else yet we had nothing (other than the old standby Greek diners). I think there is room for it, especially a family-friendly place with seating. Hopefully they also have a tasty product because I have a feeling my family will be there a lot. That said Motorama tried opening for dinner and was dead. Square Boy's continued popularity frankly amazes me...
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Baelsette
Jan 26, 2012 12:33 PM
Oh yay! How happy have you made me. I hate walking by that dumpy building everytime I do for a walk. I love square boy but not so much for their burgers. They are ok, kind of mediocre. I do love square boys greek salads. I know that they are a cheap version of a greek salad with ice burg lettuce, bottled dressing but oh what a guilty pleasure.......
Anyways, back to the topic of this thread, that's great news, thanks for sharing the good news! -
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re: dubchild
foodyDudey
Jan 26, 2012 11:23 AM
Like this:
http://www.worksburger.com/Menus/OurM...
Doesn't look like they will be creating any sleepless nights for Square boys, it's a totaly different product
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I have been to the one in Oakville. It is more of a "sit down and order" type place vs. a casual spot like Licks/etc. I haven't been to Square Boy before but imagine it is also more of a fast food type place? A burger from The Works takes about 20 minutes to make. I enjoyed my burger from there but the menu is a bit overwhelming.
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foodyDudey
Jan 26, 2012 10:50 AM
Have you tried these? How are they? I'd thnk that the Square Boy customers will be happy to continue eating there. I doubt the Licks at Pape and Danforth is cutting into Square Boy's business either.
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re: foodyDudey
Never been, and I have no idea which is why I said that I didn't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing. I'm only spreading the news.
I will certainly give them a try though, and I look forward to another option close to home.
I'm am overjoyed to see that someone is finally investing in fixing up that shit hole corner.
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