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In the slew of burger joints that have rolled out in the last few years, I've never seen one fail so bad right out of the gate.
Those food pictures on the blogTO are absolutely repulsive. I actually called the other half over to see and he howled. Bun with coarcoal on it.
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re: brushfire
Brain of J
Oct 15, 2012 10:29 AM
Is this same Gangster Burger that had a restaurant in a small plaza on Burnhamthorpe in Mississauga? It went bust.
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i was scratching my head when i checked out there webpage. it's really ballsy to be calling out one of the most beloved burger joints in toronto. i guess it could work in your favour since they are getting alot of attention with this approach.
on the flip side though, it's easier to give places a second chance when u believe they are trying there best and the owners are super nice. not so much when they go out of their way to give the impression that they are extremely cocky and ready to destroy all competition.
in the end, it's all about a great product. very interesting to see how things turn out.
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re: Davwud
kwass
Sep 23, 2012 05:35 PM
Oh. Ok. That makes sense. At first I thought that he was calling Hero Burger "one of the most beloved burger joints in toronto", since there was a previous discussion about Hero Burger. But that seemed totally crazy to me, since it's so bad. And then I thought maybe he was referring to Gangster Burger, which again seemed odd since it just opened.
Thanks for the clarification Davwud.
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re: justsayn
That thread at blogTO is kind of fascinating -- you've got obvious shills for the restaurant on one side, and people (or perhaps just one person?) with an axe to grind on the other.
There are, what, six or seven people claiming to have gotten food poisoning from the place? It strikes me as unlikely that they're causing a mini outbreak of food poisoning in Toronto (because for every person posting about it, you'd have to imagine that there are several more who have never heard of blogTO). The posts from the "ex-employee" also seem a bit too over-the-top to be true.
On the other hand you've got comically obvious shills claiming line-ups around the block.
It's a fun thread to read, but I don't know how much of it I'd take seriously.
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re: Davwud
I had posted it on Sep 19th so didn't want to keep repeating myself but justsayn linked to it below. I a, sure their are some trolls on there but as outrageous as the ex employees claims are, I can totally see this happening as it seems the people running the whole operation are far from professional food/restaurant people. Sounded like it all started on a whim based on other articles.
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In the BlogTO review the owners posted saying they are taking all comments into consideration. They say their grand opening is September 29th.
I am guessing they are reading this thread too so keep posting feedback for them. They really should have had people taste test their product before using customers as guinea pigs. I am more concerned about the statement that this place is already looking dirty/grungy/greasy.
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re: ylsf
jlunar
Sep 20, 2012 08:40 AM
The ventilation isn't enough for that space, imo. There's a lot of smoke (OH from another patron) and you can pretty much feel the grease hanging in the air.
Also, the floor, when wet, is super slippy. I thought so myself when I walked in (it was rainy that day) and some other dude nearly took a dive.
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Tried this on a whim, wish I had not, the amount of grease floating around in that tiny space is disgusting, I'm basically wearing the burger I ate with all the grease on the floor, the hard part was getting it off my sunglasses which for some strange reason had covered the lenses. The bun to burger ratio is spot on from the other posts too much bread and mine was crumbly which does not happen with fresh bread. The two sauces I tried Gangster goo and Chipotle mayo (mediocre), and the meat was basically a standard burger (Don C w cheese & Le,On,Tom), without the meaty flavour you’re expecting from a 6oz patty. If your going to griddle a burger make sure its seasoned correctly to enhance the flavour of the meat. I will not be giving this place a second chance, just too many strikes for me. I wish i had something more positive to say about this place as I don't like to be lumped into the troll category. Just seems like they have too many kinks to work out. Thanks
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BlogTO write up. One of her burger's was burned and she couldn't finish it:
http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/gan...
Hope they fix their issues (like bun to beef ratio) and get the quality under control.
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I was there on Saturday and had the Lucas burger.
Totally agree with jlunar, far too much bun vs burger. The patty was more like a burger ball. And I doubt it was 6oz, more like 4. The bacon was brutal: it was pre-cooked and then reheated on the flat top - ended up shattering when you bit into it.
Skip the fries, overseasoned with some sort of weird spice mix.
I live in the neighbourhood, so I'll give them one more try (burger only though). Hoping it was just opening day jitters. Doubt it though.
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jlunar
Sep 18, 2012 10:58 AM
Mmmhm. So usually, I'd get the most basic burger I could get, but hey, blue sauce! Caveat: I'm no burger aficionado, so I may not know what I'm talking about.
Thankfully, the blue sauce isn't as blue as their promo photo. I was only told that it's a "cheese sauce" (the rest is secret), but there's a blue cheese taste to it. With garlic. Blue cheese aioli or something?
Bread is huge and a bit (tiny bit) on the dry/stale side. But it dwarfs my patty. I ditched the bun at the half-way point.
They have a flat-top in there and it's a smash-style buger... but not. Those who love Priest's style of burger... this is not it. Patty is solid/thick, but beef-taste isn't strong enough for me - and it has a slightly sweet taste to it. I would also like a slightly higher fat ratio in there. Nice crust. I dunno.
Fries... skip the fries. Too much garlic salt or something to that effect.
Overall, the taste is okay, and I don't totally regret eating this. I was expecting far worse after that photo of blue sauce. But once is enough! I'll stick with Holy Chuck. My co-worker says Hero Burger is better. I've not eaten at any of the burger places around here so... there you are.
The end.
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re: Davwud
justsayn
Sep 19, 2012 07:48 AM
The saddest thing about that is that just because Hero is better to that person, doesn't mean this place is all that bad. For some reason, some how, I can't even begin to imagine one reason, there are people who love Hero Burger burgers. People in my office - "Awesome - Hero Burger is opening down the street"! There are two items in Toronto that I refuse to eat and would rather starve to death - Ribs at Lou Dawgs on King and Burgers at Hero anywhere.
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re: peppermint pate
justsayn
Sep 19, 2012 09:29 AM
WOW - that really takes the cake - pardon the pun!
All time low for Ex foods. But I really think it is a cool angle for the Ex - to have crazy food concoctions. Adds a lot of fun and interest to something that needs such injections! Next year - fried battered pulled pork with chocolate sauce.
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re: justsayn
justxpete
Sep 19, 2012 01:44 PM
Brilliant idea for a thread, you two! There's so much stuff I wouldn't eat.. it's hard to narrow it down to just a few dishes. ha.
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re: prima
Davwud
Sep 19, 2012 11:06 AM
I won't eat a veggie burger but the thing with the "Beef" patty is it tastes like a grease soaked sponge. The texture is all wrong and it just tastes fatty. Not in a good way. Not at all.
Honestly, I'd eat my dog's food before I'd eat there again. Hell, I'd eat my dog before I ate there again. And he's my baby.DT
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re: Davwud
prima
Sep 19, 2012 11:06 AM
Ha. I trust your judgement re: the Hero beef burger.
The Hero Soul Burger tastes better than the Richtree Marche beef burger (which is located a few doors from Hero at York Mills & Bayview). Hero's Soul Burger is also better than the off-tasting South St burger I ordered at Bayview Village. Wish they'd never replaced the A & W with that South St Burger location!
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re: kwfoodiewannabe
Davwud
Sep 20, 2012 03:07 AM
The store in question is still in business.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/320741
A couple years ago I gave it (different store) one more chance. It was every bit as bad as I had remembered.
DT
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re: Davwud
jlunar
Sep 19, 2012 08:44 AM
I know, I know! But it's all I got to relate it to in the area. I asked about Burger Press and he could draw a direct comparison b/c all he's had was the falafel burger.
Personally, I think i would eat at Gangster Burger before Hero. But in all cases, I'd just rather walk down to Bahn Mi Boys, really.
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walked by today. my problem with that place is they don't have any seating and they clearly have room for it. Even the OG Burgers Priest location has 3 seats by the window!
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re: c_snapper
with the possible exception of the Lucas, there's nothing on that list that looks remotely good.
- "smoked provolone , sautéed mushrooms and onions, roasted red peppers in a marinara sauce. Finished with garlic aioli lettuce and tomato." - seriously?
unless i hear some rave reviews, i won't be setting foot inside this place until it changes concepts in 3 months
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re: jlunar
justxpete
Sep 18, 2012 07:30 AM
Likewise. I don't think I can bring myself to either, after seeing that.
And remember, I reserved judgement... lol!
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This thread is making my brain melt. For the love of pete, someone try the actual burger and let's stop talking about the (admittedly stupid) concept, a discussion which has been run into the ground in just a few hours.
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justxpete
Sep 17, 2012 12:54 PM
lol, I don't mind what the name as much as others do, but saying that they're a terrible restaurant just because they're named after murderers and criminals is just like saying Burger Priest is terrible because it's named after child molesters. What matters is the burger! That being said, I do avoid Weezie's for the name, so, to each their own. I don't find GB's name offensive - just gimmicky - but so what? "Pink Burger" was a horrid name. GB, although somewhat silly isn't nearly as offensive, IMO. And perhaps this is all for not, and their burgers are horrible anyway...
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re: justxpete
TorontoJo
Sep 17, 2012 01:45 PM
I'm not sure that anyone is saying the food is terrible because the name is stupid. Personally, I just think it's a stupid "concept". But I hate high concept restaurants in general when they just don't make any sense. What do gangsters have to do with burgers? What do the names of gangsters have to do with the burger toppings? And more importantly, why don't they have just a simple burger on their menu? Why would I want to put something called "gangster goo" on my burger?
If they have good burgers and good service at a decent price, I'm sure they will succeed. But the names and the kitsch do nothing for me. Even Holy Chuck uses names that actually bear some relation to the burger's ingredients.
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re: TorontoJo
justxpete
Sep 17, 2012 01:58 PM
Sounds like it's the employment of a philosophy - also, I'm not sure how the "holy" part of "holy chuck" has any relation to the burgers themselves.
/Edit and I think "Can someone explain to me why we should be toasting drug dealers and murderers? Hopefully this exercise in tastelessness signals the end of the burger craze, because after this, there's nowhere else to go. We've hit bottom." is indeed a pretty severe condemnation.
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re: justxpete
TorontoJo
Sep 17, 2012 02:06 PM
Oh, don't get me wrong, I think Holy Chuck and Burger's Priest are stupid names, too. :o) But Holy Chuck makes a good burger, and the "theme" doesn't carry into the atmosphere or decor in the restaurant itself. So I can forgive/ignore the name.
And as jlunar points out above, the whole "burger without the mumbo jumbo" statement on their homepage is so laughably ironic that it's on the verge of being satire. Which is maybe what they were going for?
Anyway, I hope the burgers are good and we can forget the stupid marketing concept.
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re: TorontoJo
justxpete
Sep 17, 2012 02:14 PM
Ha. I agree with the glaring contradiction - it's pretty silly - but everyone needs a theme, some are just better than others... but they can't all be called "burger shop" or "chicken store".
And I think the name does carry in to Holy Chuck burgers.. I just think you might be making the wrong association. It's not so "holy", per se...
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re: TorontoJo
Agreed, T.O. Jo. Even if they make a good burger, this "concept" seems distracting at best.
Questionable marketing, IMO.
But make sure to keep an eye out for my new restaurant concept: PM's Chicken, a salute to all our great Prime Ministers who loved eating those Rotisserie birds!
The Robert Borden on a Bun Special will be a huge hit, no doubt.
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re: justxpete
dannyboy
Sep 18, 2012 08:13 AM
I'll give them a chance - no different than Holy Chuck or Burgers Priest and their schticks...
That being said, after some investigation and seeing some pics i noticed the owners probably do think they're gangsters ( ie the homey'ish kind) , they even got Drake to do the opening.
Either way, if it's a good burger i'm down as there isn't a ton i'm fond of around there and it IS on my way home from work ; )
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dxs
Sep 17, 2012 10:50 AM
From the website:
GANGSTER BURGER IS A TOAST TO THE BAD GUYS. A TOAST TO THE GUYS THAT WE DREAMED OF BECOMING WHEN WE GREW UP. A TOAST TO THE GUYS WHO DID IT THEIR OWN WAY.
HERE AT GANGSTER BURGER, WE'RE KEEPING TRUE TO THE GANGSTER PHILOSOPHY. IF THE PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING A GOOD F@$%IN' BURGER WITHOUT ALL THE MUMBO JUMBO, THEN WE'RE GOING TO SUPPLY IT.
AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT OUR WAY.
IT'S A NEW DAY AND WE'RE THE NEW BOYS IN TOWN. NO PRIESTS. NO HEROES. JUST GANGSTERS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU A BURGER YOU CANT REFUSE.
Can someone explain to me why we should be toasting drug dealers and murderers?
Hopefully this exercise in tastelessness signals the end of the burger craze, because after this, there's nowhere else to go. We've hit bottom.
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re: jlunar
pinstripeprincess
Sep 17, 2012 01:00 PM
who says there won't be another turn over ;)
all being said, i think it's actually really funny that they're referencing priest and hero. i'm dubious that mumbo jumbo might mean moist and nicely cooked meat but i'm pretty sure they're at least not doing pressed lean mushroom filler burgers. i might try one really soon... i might wait for the inevitable group buying coupon.
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