Episode 54: Mr. Steer

Episode 54: Mr. Steer [11:00]
(Download: MP3 15MB / FLAC 116MB / Ogg Vorbis 9MB / Stream)
(or play it here)
[audio http://www.archive.org/download/20100505/MBR_54.mp3]

In today's episode Chris Zeke hand and Warren Soylent Wilansky talk with Louisa the waitress who has worked at Mr. Steer for 22 years and Simone, the cashier about their experiences on the job.

[caption id="attachment_1146" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Interior View of Mr. Steer"][/caption]

The Montreal Burger Report is a radio show & podcast where Zeke and Soylent go out have a couple of burgers, some beer and talk about them. It is your source for the most in depth and comprehensive coverage about hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and sliders in Montreal. There is a new episode available every Wednesday morning at MontrealBurger.Wordpress.com and on CKUT 90.3 FM in Montreal. Our email address is MontrealBurger at Gmail.com.

[caption id="attachment_1136" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="The Montreal Burger Report\'s Rig"][/caption]

This episode of the Montreal Burger Report was written, produced and engineered by Chris Zeke Hand. We would graciously like to thank CKUT for their support, The Fabulous Bloaters, Cheech and Chong and the one the only the incomparable Brad Slyde of DiscoBreak.com for the music, and YOU for listening.

Mister Steer
Address: 1198 Saint Catherine W
Phone: (514) 866-3233

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101337671826617990441.0004725bfe498f2b4a89e&ll=45.501339,-73.571792&spn=0.005264,0.00912&z=16&iwloc=0004828a5eae1bca370a8&output=embed&w=425&h=350]

Great Burgers

Howdy!

[caption id="attachment_1228" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="La Paryse - Montreal photo by Random Shooter"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1232" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="GBK burger Photo by Magnus D"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1227" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Dutch Boy Burger photo by rikomatic"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1230" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Vera\'s Cantor Burger photo by **MdC**"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1233" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="SPTR burger photo by Burger Baroness"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1231" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Cheeeeseburger photo by howyadoin"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1229" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="H. Keller : 1 photo by westlee01"][/caption]

Louis Lunch

Howdy!

[caption id="attachment_1236" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Louis Lunch photo by kaszeta"][/caption]

More information about Louis Lunch can be found here and here.

Happy National Burger Month

Howdy!

On the other side of the border they are celebrating National Burger Month. I think that the person in charge should change the name to International Burger Month.

They're celebrating in Denver, Houston, at Smashbuger (where they did change the name), Back Yard Burgers, and on the Burger Beast and A Hamburger Today.

Good Burgers

Howdy!

[caption id="attachment_1218" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Bacon Cheddar Burger :) Photo by daniellevillano"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1220" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Photo by Fearrange"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1219" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Photo by Thomas1190"][/caption]

Flip Burger

Howdy!

[caption id="attachment_1215" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Flip Burger Boutique in Atlanta photo by nicknamemiket"][/caption]Flip Burger Boutique in Atlanta

Cheeseburger Art

Howdy!

[caption id="attachment_1213" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Cheeseburger - Soft Oil Pastels Photo by mrz0ne2003"][/caption]

Pictures of Cheeseburgers

Howdy!

Some more good looking burgers...

[caption id="attachment_1209" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Photo by Sacramento Press Media"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1210" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Boogie Burger Photo by twofishblu"][/caption]

Dic Ann's Concours 21 jours de Mai!

Howdy!

Go to Dic Ann's NDG once-a-day, they're giving away lots of stuff.

Pictures of Hamburgers

Howdy!

[caption id="attachment_1203" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Angus Burger - The Greenwich Union Photo by luciferscage"][/caption]

Episode 53: Mr. Steer

Episode 53: Mr. Steer [13:12]
(Download: MP3 17MB / FLAC 134MB / Ogg Vorbis 11MB / Stream)
(or play it here)
[audio http://www.archive.org/download/20100428/MBR_53.mp3]

In today's episode Zeke recites the menu, Zeke and Soylent discuss the design and kitsch factor of storied and influential Montreal Hamburger Enterprise known as Mr. Steer, and try and ascertain if there is a sponsorship deal in place.

[caption id="attachment_1144" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="The First Page of the Menu at Mr. Steer"][/caption]

The Montreal Burger Report is a radio show & podcast where Zeke and Soylent go out have a couple of burgers, some beer and talk about them. It is your source for the most in depth and comprehensive coverage about hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and sliders in Montreal. There is a new episode available every Wednesday morning at MontrealBurger.Wordpress.com and on CKUT 90.3 FM in Montreal. Our email address is MontrealBurger at Gmail.com.

[caption id="attachment_1139" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="A Blurry Image of the Entire Menu at Mr. Steer"][/caption]

This episode of the Montreal Burger Report was written, produced and engineered by Chris Zeke Hand. We would graciously like to thank CKUT for their support, The Fabulous Bloaters, Cheech and Chong and the one the only the incomparable Brad Slyde of DiscoBreak.com for the music, and YOU for listening.

Mister Steer
Address: 1198 Saint Catherine W
Phone: (514) 866-3233

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101337671826617990441.0004725bfe498f2b4a89e&ll=45.501339,-73.571792&spn=0.005264,0.00912&z=16&iwloc=0004828a5eae1bca370a8&output=embed&w=425&h=350]

More Pictures of Cheeseburgers

[caption id="attachment_1185" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Dephi, Indiana The Stone House Burger and Onion Rings Photo by Jessica Nunemaker"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1183" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="lunch Photo by wsumgdriver"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1184" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Hamburgueria Sujinho Photo by marcelo träsel"][/caption]

Roadfood Digest

Howdy!

Roadfood Digest on Sliders (they say "hamburgers" but in fact any restaurant that has the word "white" in its name and serves a hamburger with sauteed onions is making sliders).

The Burger Lab

Howdy!

The Burger Lab on making a Juicy Lucy.

Hamburger Art

[caption id="attachment_1174" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="spring 2010 sketchbook031 Image by shock.value"][/caption][caption id="attachment_1173" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="spring 2010 sketchbook033 image by shock.value"][/caption][caption id="attachment_1172" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="spring 2010 sketchbook022 image by shock.value"][/caption]

Pictures of Cheeseburgers

Howdy!

[caption id="attachment_1168" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Old Fashioned Hamburger and Milkshake"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1169" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Brozers'"][/caption]

The Toronto Burger Report

Howdy!

Blog TO, write extremely favorably about The Great Burger Kitchen.

Heart Attack Grill

[caption id="attachment_1156" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Heart Attack Grill"][/caption]

Cool Pictures

Howdy!

We're moving things over here from Facebook, follow us if you like...

[caption id="attachment_1159" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="I Heart Burger and Subs Hamburger"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1158" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Culver\'s ButterBurger"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1157" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="A really delicious burger"][/caption]

Episode 52: Mr. Steer

Episode 52: Mr. Steer [14:46]
(Download: MP3 16MB / FLAC 150MB / Ogg Vorbis 10MB / Stream)
(or play it here)
[audio http://www.archive.org/download/20100421/MBR_52.mp3]

In today's episode James Gaspar, the Mister in Mister Steer explains the recipe, the history and everything you ever wanted to know about Mr. Steer. The cut of meat, where they get it, the French dressing, the Suzie Q fries and what has changed over fifty two years.

Mr. Steer is located at 1198 Saint Catherine West. Their phone number is 514 866-3233. And they are open seven day a week from 8 o'clock to 10 o'clock and midnight on weekends.

[caption id="attachment_1131" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Mr. Steer viewed from Across the Street "][/caption]

The Montreal Burger Report is a radio show & podcast where Zeke and Soylent go out have a couple of burgers, some beer and talk about them. It is your source for the most in depth and comprehensive coverage about hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and sliders in Montreal. There is a new episode available every Wednesday morning here and on CKUT 90.3 FM in Montreal. Our email address is Montreal Burger at Gmail dot com.

This episode of the Montreal Burger Report was written, produced and engineered by Chris Zeke Hand. We would graciously like to thank CKUT for their support, The Fabulous Bloaters, Cheech and Chong and the one the only the incomparable Brad Slyde of Disco Break dot com for the music, and YOU for listening.

Mister Steer
Address: 1198 Saint Catherine W
Phone: (514) 866-3233

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101337671826617990441.0004725bfe498f2b4a89e&ll=45.501339,-73.571792&spn=0.005264,0.00912&z=16&iwloc=0004828a5eae1bca370a8&output=embed&w=425&h=350]

Episode 51: Mr. Steer

Episode 51: Mr. Steer [11:09]
(Download: MP3 16MB / FLAC 121MB / Ogg Vorbis 10MB / Stream)
(or play it here)
[audio http://www.archive.org/download/20100414/MBR_51.mp3]

In today's episode Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Warren 'Soylent' Wilansky are at the Legendary Montreal Hamburger Institution known as Mr. Steer. Our heroes talk about the sear marks, have a discussion on hamburger integrity and the meatball-like nature of the Steerburger at Mr. Steer.

[caption id="attachment_1135" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="A Steerburger and Suzie Q Fries"][/caption]

The Montreal Burger Report is a podcast where Zeke and Soylent go out have a couple of burgers, some beer and in very generalized terms try to inform you about the good burgers in Montreal, the great burgers in Montreal, the best burgers in Montreal and everything else related to burgers in Montreal.

[caption id="attachment_1148" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="A Blurry Snapshot of the Number 6 Platter on the Menu"][/caption]

This episode of the Montreal Burger Report was written, produced and engineered by Chris 'Zeke' Hand. We would graciously like to thank CKUT for their support, The Fabulous Bloaters, Cheech and Chong and the one the only the incomparable Brad Slyde of discobreak.com for the music, and you for listening.

Mister Steer
Address: 1198 Saint Catherine W
Phone: (514) 866-3233

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101337671826617990441.0004725bfe498f2b4a89e&ll=45.501339,-73.571792&spn=0.005264,0.00912&z=16&iwloc=0004828a5eae1bca370a8&output=embed&w=425&h=350]

Episode 50: Mr. Steer

Episode 50: Mr. Steer [11:36]
(Download: MP3 16MB / FLAC 124MB / Ogg Vorbis 10MB / Stream)
(or play it here)
[Audio http://www.archive.org/download/20100407/MBR_50.mp3]

Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Waren 'Soylent' Wilansky discuss the menu selections at the mythical Montreal hamburger eatery Mr. Steer. Soylent can't quite make up his mind about what to order. Zeke insists on getting sauteed onions with his hamburger platter. And lurking nearby is everpresent question of the orange stuff.

[caption id="attachment_1115" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Steerburgers at Mr. Steer "][/caption]

Mister Steer
Address: 1198 Saint Catherine W
Phone: (514) 866-3233

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101337671826617990441.0004725bfe498f2b4a89e&ll=45.501339,-73.571792&spn=0.005264,0.00912&z=16&iwloc=0004828a5eae1bca370a8&output=embed&w=425&h=350]

Episode 49: Taverne Square Dominion Square Tavern & Mr. Steer

Episode 49: Taverne Square Dominion Square Tavern & Mr. Steer[11:39]
(Download: MP3 17MB / FLAC 122MB / Ogg Vorbis 10MB / Stream)
(or play it here)
[Audio http://www.archive.org/download/20100331/MBR_49.mp3]

In today's episode Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Waren 'Soylent' Wilansky explain how they like their hamburgers cooked. Our heroes rave about the bathrooms at the Dominion Square Tavern, discuss the nature of perception and memory and how it affects hamburgers, get the bill and walk to the Legendary Montreal Hamburger Emporium; Mr. Steer.

Taverne Square Dominion Square Tavern
Address: 1243 Metcalfe
Phone: (514) 564-5056

Mr. Steer
Address: 1198 Saint Catherine W
Phone: (514) 866-3233

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&source=embed&msa=0&msid=101337671826617990441.0004725bfe498f2b4a89e&ll=45.503174,-73.571062&spn=0.005264,0.00912&z=16&iwloc=0004828a5a1c6c912372e&output=embed]

Episode 48: Taverne Square Dominion Square Tavern

Episode 48: Taverne Square Dominion Square Tavern [12:08]
(Download: MP3 17MB / FLAC 126MB / Ogg Vorbis 10MB / Stream)
(or play it here)
[Audio http://www.archive.org/download/20100324/MBR_48.mp3]

In today's episode everyone gets introduced to the new guy Warren 'Soylent' Wilansky. Before, during and after the introductions our heroes are hanging out at the New Taverne Square Dominion Square Tavern. The New Taverne Square Dominion Square Tavern had been recently sold and the new owners eviscerated all of it's history and soul via renovation. Zeke points out that they serve their beers in the wrong type of glass. But despite the incorrect glassware Soylent and Zeke are able to compare notes on what makes a perfect burger. And Soylent explains why he thinks hamburgers are the new 'in' thing.

Taverne Square Dominion Square Tavern
Address: 1243 Metcalfe
Phone: (514) 564-5056

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&source=embed&msa=0&msid=101337671826617990441.0004725bfe498f2b4a89e&ll=45.503174,-73.571062&spn=0.005264,0.00912&z=16&iwloc=0004828a5a1c6c912372e&output=embed]

Montreal Burger Report Episode 47: Restaurant Philippe

Episode 47: Restaurant Philippe (5/5) [14:32]
(Download: MP3 21MB / FLAC 155MB / Ogg Vorbis 11MB / Stream)
(or play it here)[Audio http://www.archive.org/download/20100317/MBR_47.mp3]

This week Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed Hawco (also known as Blork) are joined by one of Montreal's best chefs Julie Rondeau at the Montreal Hamburger Institution, Restaurant Philippe.

[caption id="attachment_1072" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Restaurant Philippe Double Cheeseburger. Notice the crust formed by the Maillard Reaction."][/caption]

Zeke starts out by pointing out what he would do if he had Resto Zeke. Blork and Julie talk about the smashburger technique which produces a Maillard reaction and how it relates to the cooking and eating of hamburgers in great depth. Everyone discusses the ethical concerns of accepting free food and Zeke makes the executive decision to avoid any and all potential conflicts of interest by paying for everything. The general consensus is that they make great burgers at Restaurant Philippe, and everyone is in agreement that they should return often and soon.

Zeke's Verdict

I gotta give major props to Jack Ruttan for suggesting Restaurant Philippe (aka Resto Phil, Pataterie Chez Philippe and Chez Phil as well) and then to John, his dad and his daughter for making kick-ass hamburgers and cheeseburgers. I could ramble on using a variety of multi-syllabic words to elucidate on the exquisite appearance and how terrificly toothsome their repasts are. But I won't, and just simply state that they make really good hamburgers and cheeseburgers at Restaurant Philippe.

Ed's Verdict

The burgers at Chez Philippe are not sophisticated, but they are almost magically delicious. Whereas many burger places try to wow you with exotic sounding ingredients, and a lot of corner casse-croutes have traded in their souls for convenience and low-rent ingredients, Chez Philippe knocks me out with its modest menu of burgers that carry more than 40 years of uncompromising experience. The folks there still do it Phil's way, and the difference comes through in the flavour. They're one of the few places around (maybe the only one) using the "smash" burger technique, and the result is a gorgeous caramelized sear on the meat that amps up the beefiness to a heavenly level. It ain't fancy, but damn, is it good!

[caption id="attachment_1073" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Restaurant Philippe Double Cheeseburger after one bite."][/caption]

Restaurant Philippe
Address: 1877 Amherst
Phone: (514) 528-5957

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&source=embed&msa=0&msid=101337671826617990441.0004725bfe498f2b4a89e&ll=45.519474,-73.563552&spn=0.005262,0.00912&z=16&output=embed]

[Previous Episodes:
Episode 43: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe (1/5),
Episode 44: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe (2/5),
Episode 45: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe (3/5),
Episode 46: Restaurant Philippe (4/5)]

Montreal Burger Report Episode 46: Restaurant Philippe

Episode 46: Restaurant Philippe (4/5) [11:25]
(Download: MP3 12MB / FLAC 104MB / Ogg Vorbis 8MB / Stream)
(or play it here)[Audio http://www.archive.org/download/20100310/MBR_46_vbr.mp3]

This week Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed Hawco (also known as Blork) are quiet and don't say a word. The entire show is spent listening to John Hachez talk about Restaurant Philippe's history, methods, recipes and love.

[caption id="attachment_1069" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Big Phil burger at Restaurant Philippe"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1070" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The French fries at Restaurant Philippe"][/caption]

Restaurant Philippe
Address: 1877 Amherst
Phone: (514) 528-5957

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&source=embed&msa=0&msid=101337671826617990441.0004725bfe498f2b4a89e&ll=45.519474,-73.563552&spn=0.005262,0.00912&z=16&output=embed]

[Previous Episodes:
Episode 43: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe (1/5),
Episode 44: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe (2/5),
Episode 45: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe (3/5)]

Episode 45: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe (3/5) [12:04]
(Download: MP3 17MB / FLAC 130MB / Ogg Vorbis 10MB / Stream)
(or play it here)[Audio http://www.archive.org/download/20100303/MBR_45_vbr.mp3]

Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed Hawco (also known as Blork) are preparing to leave Le Cheval Blanc so that they can eat some hamburgers at the Legendary Montreal Institution Restaurant Philippe. Julie Rondeau, one of the best chefs in town has joined them because she has been making changes to the menu at Le Cheval Blanc.

[caption id="attachment_1066" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Restaurant Philippe in Google Street View."][/caption]

In today's episode, while thay are walking down the street Zeke explains what a smashburger is, Blork gets all misty eyed and poetic about how wonderful and great the hamburgers at Restaurant Philippe are. And our heroes recognize it will be a momentous occasion because the previous time they had visited they had brought the restaurant reviewer from the Montreal Gazette with them and it was good.

[caption id="attachment_1067" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Restaurant Philippe interior view"][/caption]

Le Cheval Blanc
Address: 809 Ontario E.
Phone: (514) 522-0211

Restaurant Philippe
Address: 1877 Amherst
Phone: (514) 528-5957

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&source=embed&msa=0&msid=101337671826617990441.0004725bfe498f2b4a89e&ll=45.519474,-73.563552&spn=0.005262,0.00912&z=16&output=embed]

[Previous Episodes:
Episode 43: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe (1/5),
Episode 44: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe (2/5)]

Montreal Burger Report Episode 44: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe

Episode 44: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe (2/5) [13:10]
(Download: MP3 20MB / FLAC 144MB / Ogg Vorbis 11MB / Stream)
(or play it here)[Audio http://www.archive.org/download/20100224/MBR_44_vbr.mp3]

This week Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed Hawco (also known as Blork) are still at Le Cheval Blanc, the oldest microbrasserie in Quebec. Julie Rondeau, one of the best chefs in Montreal has joined them and they have serious plans to go to the Legendary Montreal Institution Restaurant Philippe which is just down the street.

[caption id="attachment_1063" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The menu board at Le Cheval Blanc"][/caption]

They discuss Julie's changes to the menu at Le Cheval Blanc and how beer is ordered in Quebec.

[caption id="attachment_1064" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Make mine a rousse."][/caption]

Le Cheval Blanc
Address: 809 Ontario E.
Phone: (514) 522-0211

Restaurant Philippe
Address: 1877 Amherst
Phone: (514) 528-5957

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&source=embed&msa=0&msid=101337671826617990441.0004725bfe498f2b4a89e&ll=45.519474,-73.563552&spn=0.005262,0.00912&z=16&output=embed]

[Previous Episodes:
Episode 43: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe (1/5)]

Montreal Burger Report Episode 43: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe

Episode 43: Le Cheval Blanc & Restaurant Philippe (1/5) [13:45]
(Download: MP3 20MB / FLAC 149MB / Ogg Vorbis 11MB / Stream)
(or play it here)[Audio http://www.archive.org/download/20100217_526/MBR_43_vbr.mp3]

This week Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed Hawco (also known as Blork) start off at Le Cheval Blanc before walking down the street to the legendary Montreal institution Restaurant Philippe. And by a happy coincidence they are joined by one of Montreal's best chefs, Julie Rondeau.

[caption id="attachment_1011" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Le Cheval Blanc; north side of rue Ontario. Easy to spot."][/caption]

Zeke ended up arriving early and as you would expect immediately started talking to himself. Julie spots Zeke from across the bar and joins him. Blork shows up slightly later.

[caption id="attachment_1012" align="aligncenter" width="498" caption="The view upon entering Le Cheval Blanc."][/caption]

Le Cheval Blanc
Address: 809 Ontario E.
Phone: (514) 522-0211

Restaurant Philippe
Address: 1877 Amherst
Phone: (514) 528-5957

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&source=embed&msa=0&msid=101337671826617990441.0004725bfe498f2b4a89e&ll=45.519474,-73.563552&spn=0.005262,0.00912&z=16&output=embed]

Montreal Burger Report Episode 42: Decca 77 & Firegrill (part 5 of 5)

Episode 42: Decca 77 & Firegrill (part 5 of 5) (14:07);
(Download: MP3 19MB / FLAC 155MB / Ogg Vorbis 12MB / Stream)
(or play it here)
[AUDIO http://www.archive.org/download/20100210/MBR42_vbr.mp3]Chris 'Zeke' Hand, Ed (Blork) Hawco, and guest Montreal burger reporter Frank Hashimoto debate the good and the bad of the Firegrill burger experience. The result is an existential quandary in which the burger is simultaneously a good burger and not a good burger.

[caption id="attachment_973" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Firegrill burger with fried slivered onions."][/caption]

Ed's Verdict

Firegrill makes a pretty good burger, but the big-box format of the restaurant and the corporate feel of it diminishes any sense of craft. There's no way to know where the beef came from, and in my case the taste of the beef was overshadowed by the taste of the barbecue sauce (my own fault for ordering that one). That said, I give Firegrill points for keeping it juicy and not overcooking, and for keeping the toppings on point and suitable for a big juicy burger. On balance, I think it was pretty tasty, but not particularly distinctive.

Zeke's Verdict

I was impressed with how good the hamburger at Firegrill was. Part of it is due to how low my expectations were going in - however any place that will cook a hamburger rare for me, instantaneously becomes a good burger joint, if not a great burger joint in my mind. That being said, the generic nature of the restaurant does take something away from the whole experience - but not as much as I would have thought. Add to that the Deep fried onion, and anytime I think of Firegrill it makes me smile.

Frank's Verdict

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the burger. Firegrill is much like other many of the other nicer generic restaurant chains where you could expect a decent burger. Given that their raison-d’etre is food cooked on a grill, you could either expect that they know how to cook all variations of meat or that they are geared toward grilling steaks and would overcook your burger. I’ve usually found it to be the latter so I was quite content to have gotten a nice juicy burger well-seasoned to bring out the flavour of the meat. Plus the burger itself was well constructed with fresh ingredients. As far as comparisons to other restaurants, the burger was not good enough or special enough to make it a burger destination, but if I found myself there and didn’t have a craving for another menu item I would be happy to order the burger.

Decca 77
Address: 1077 Drummond
Phone: (514) 934-1077

Firegrill
Address: 1490 Stanley
Phone: (514) 842-0020

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&source=embed&msa=0&msid=101337671826617990441.0004725bfe498f2b4a89e&ll=45.498948,-73.573122&spn=0.010528,0.018239&z=15&output=embed]

[Previous Episodes of The Montreal Burger Report:
Episode 38: Decca 77 & Firegrill (part 1 of 5),
Episode 39: Decca 77 & Firegrill (part 2 of 5),
Episode 40: Decca 77 & Firegrill (part 3 of 5),
Episode 41: Decca 77 & Firegrill (part 4 of 5)]

Montreal Burger Report Episode 41: Decca 77 & Firegrill (part 4 of 5)

Episode 41: Decca 77 & Firegrill (part 4 of 5) (14:15);
(Download: MP3 20MB / FLAC 158MB / Ogg Vorbis 12MB / Stream)
(or play it here)
[AUDIO http://www.archive.org/download/20100203/MBR41_vbr.mp3]Chris 'Zeke' Hand and guest hamburger fan Frank Hashimoto have started to eat their burgers at Firegrill and get down to the business of describing them. Ed (Blork) Hawco is still waiting for his because of an ordering mixup.

[caption id="attachment_969" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Zeke's Cheeseburger, ½ lb all beef burger, Monterey Jack cheese, toasted bun, lettuce, tomato, pickle, red onions."][/caption]

Zeke initially does not think it will be a good burger, but will his opinion change when he sees how it is cooked?

[caption id="attachment_970" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Zeke's Cheeseburger cooked rare."][/caption]

Finally Ed's burger shows up. Quantities of sauce and cheese are debated.

[caption id="attachment_971" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Blork's Firegrill Burger."][/caption]

Decca 77
Address: 1077 Drummond
Phone: (514) 934-1077

Firegrill
Address: 1490 Stanley
Phone: (514) 842-0020

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[Previous Episodes of The Montreal Burger Report:
Episode 38: Decca 77 & Firegrill (part 1 of 5),
Episode 39: Decca 77 & Firegrill (part 2 of 5),
Episode 40: Decca 77 & Firegrill (part 3 of 5)]