Two Men, Two Burgers, Some Beer... The most in depth and comprehensive coverage about hamburgers, cheeseburgers, both with and without bacon in Montreal.
If you ride the Metro in Montreal you've probably seen the big ads that declare Méchant Boeuf's burger as the "best burger in town." Easily provoked, Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed 'Blork' Hawco decided to visit Méchant Boeuf and find out for themselves.
But first, a few beers were in order. Listen in as Ed and Chris discuss Méchant Boeuf and their expectations while knocking back a few cool ones at L'Orignal on rue Saint-Alexis in Old Montreal.
On a cold and rainy night, our intrepid burgermeisters, their dates, and a chaperone piled into the car and made the long haul out to Boul. Pie IX to investigate the odd and surprisingly thin "burgers" purveyed by the mothership location of the home-grown Dic Ann's franchise.
Although Dic Ann's has various locations (none central), Zeke insisted that we had to drive out to Pie IX to experience the ambiance of the original location. And what ambiance! There are no tables at the mothership, only 15 stools at a counter overlooking the preparation area. (Other Dic Ann's locations offer fast-food style seating.)
We were lucky to get five seats in a row, but perhaps it was due to the weather. The restaurant is brightly lit, with blindingly bright yellow and white walls. Over the counter, a crew of neighbourhood girls and burly men kept the burgers moving with friendly, efficient service.
This isn't really a place to bring a date (although nobody told that to the guy in a suit sitting with a tranny at the end of the counter, but all that proves is that the transgendered love burgers too). Nor is it the kind of place where you linger over a beer, in particular because they have no liquor license.
The menu is simple and direct: four kinds of burgers, hot dogs, fries, and soft drinks. Aside from the simple hamburger and cheeseburger (each also available as "doubles"), there is the "Hi-boy" (a hamburger with lettuce and tomato, also available with cheese) and the "Hambourghini," which is topped with pepperoni.
The skinny fries are cooked in peanut oil, which is well noted on the walls and the menu, for those who have allergies. They were reasonably good, but unfortunately nothing special.
Between the four of us (one in the gang is a vegetarian), we knocked back about 13 burgers. That sounds like a lot, but believe me, these burgers are thin. You need at least two to make a meal. Chris, who is an unabashed fan, clobbered 6 of them.
Listen in to the meal's finale, and even better, the scuttlebutt regarding the goings on around us that the vegetarian notices while the carnivores had their faces buried in burgers.
Ed's Verdict
These burgers are odd (not that there's anything wrong with that). They are definitely the most unusual burgers you're likely to find in Montreal, which might explain their loyal base of fans. Most importantly, these little guys are tasty. It's not a sophisticated kind of tasty, but a good old fashioned meat and cheese in a spicy sauce kind of tasty. Very retro. And if you like your burgers a bit meatier, all you need to do is order a double. While I can barely bring myself to refer to these tasty sandwiches as "burgers," I'll not hesitate to go back.
Zeke's Verdict
I adore the Dic Ann's burger, and the Dic Ann's experience. The only reason why I would not call them the best burgers in Montreal is because I won't call any burger 'the best' burger in Montreal. But Dic Ann's burger is wonderful, delicious, and a lot of fun as well. I regularly convince friends and family to drive me (as I don't have a license) to Dic Ann's just so that I can share my enjoyment with them.
They offer a unique hamburger in a well designed space, quickly, cheaply and without any muss or fuss. What surprised me most on this visit, was that it was the first time I had ever eaten anything other than the 'Hi Boy' and and I was astounded to discover that without the lettuce and tomato the hamburgers and cheeseburgers at Dic Ann's taste even better. Next time (and there will be lots of next times) I will only order a regular (or maybe a double if I'm feeling adventurous).
Address:Various. Dic Ann's: 10910 Pie-IX blvd., Montreal North, QC, CA. (See clickable map, below.) Web site:www.dicanns.com
In this episode Ed Hawco (also known as Blork) and Chris 'Zeke' Hand are still on their road trip to visit Dic Ann's. As with part 1, Jordan Timm, Martine Pagé and Luci M came along for the ride.
The four of us get down to business and order up some burgers, fries and soda (person number five stuck with the fries -- she's a vegetarian). While waiting for our first wave of burgers to arrive, they discuss the setting and history of Dic Ann's. But then the burgers arrive and everyone finally gets to deconstruct -- and more importantly eat -- a pile of surprisingly good burgers.
Dic Ann's is located at 10,910 Pie-IX blvd. in Montreal North. They are open Wednesdays to Sundays from 11 in the morning to 8 at night, although on Thursdays and Fridays they stay open later. There is no phone.
They've been around since 1954 and while there are a total of 9 Dic Ann's restaurants in the Greater Montreal area we went to the oldest location which has been open since 1956. The burgers truly taste better there.
In this episode Ed Hawco (also known as Blork) and Chris 'Zeke' Hand take a road trip to visit Dic Ann's. Jordan Timm, Martine Page and Luci M come along for the ride just because they can. Dic Ann's is located at 10,910 Pie-IX blvd. Four streets before the Pie-IX bridge.
They are open Wednesdays to Sundays from 11 in the morning to 8 at night, although on Thursdays and Fridays they stay open later. There is no phone.
If you want to find out more information about Dic, Ann or Dic Ann's they have a website. They've been around since 1954 and while there are a total of 11 Dic Ann's restaurants in the Greater Montreal area we went to the oldest location which has been open since 1956. Some people claim that they are the best burgers, and while we weren't up to making such definitive statements. The consensus was that the burgers truly taste better there than at any other Dic Ann's location.
It was a cold and rainy night in November, and our intrepid burgermeisters had to pile into a car and make the long haul out to Boul. Pie IX to investigate the odd and surprisingly thin "hamburgers" purveyed by the mothership location.
Listen to our motoring fivesome as they discuss their anticipation of the true Dic Ann's experience, and hear what they have to say when they finally arrive.
