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BQM
Category: Restaurants Burgers Burgers [Edit]
210 Ossington AveToronto, ON M6J 2Z9
Neighbourhoods: Little Portugal, Ossington Strip, Beaconsfield Village
(416) 850-1919
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 12 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
37 reviews for BQM
Review Highlights
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"their sweet potato fries and poutines are delicious." In 7 reviews -
"But, in reality, the poutine is my favorite in the city." In 12 reviews -
"...B sirloin burger, a side of Yukon gold fries and a chipotle..." In 3 reviews
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37 reviews in English
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Review from Courtney B.
Pickering, ON
3/14/2012
Popped in here for dinner before a show at the Garrison the other night. It's a good mid-priced option on the Ossington strip, and they have a nice little patio.
I ordered the Hawaiian burger on brisket (at our server's suggestion), and I have to say, it was amazing. I have never used that word to describe a burger before. The flavours were fantastic and the meat was tasty. Our server was really friendly at first but then sort of dropped off as the place became busier.
Why the three stars? First of all, the sides are all separate and I think they are a little pricey. $9 for a salad? And, no desserts!! They do have a good selection of beer and wine, though. -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
11/23/2011
On a busy Ossington Street strip , it was very difficult to find a restaurant that was even willing to let us wait for a table around 8:30pm.... luckily, we walked into BQM at the right time and were fortunate enough to be seated after 5 - 10 minautes. The narrow restaurant had a mini communal table, that seated about 8, and a few more 2 and 4 tops all squished together. The decor looked like a wooden cabin inside, with dim lighting and lots of ladies working hard to make everyone's meal a good one.
There is a good selection of beers and as much as I wanted my usual blanche de chambly, but decided to go for the Kawartha Raspberry wheat ale. The beer was great, with a great fruity flavour.
What's great about the menu is the option to select your cut of meat - chuck, brisket, or sirloin... but you have to pay the price for it. Not a super big burger eater, my dear friend agreed to split with me - the Ossington which contained the usual fixings with a portebello mushroom, with cheese and a full portebello sandwiched in between. For the leanest cut of meat, it cost $13..... yes, it was my choice to go for the lean cut, and yes the meat is done in house, but one burger for that price... I thought was a little bit too high. No fries either, it made me feel a little ripped off. Aside from the custom option, I didn't think anything stood out. It tasted....... regular?
We opted to get the chorizo and carmelized onion poutine to share, but they were all out of chorizo!!!!!! The classic was our second option, and I have to say that a very generous portion of gravy was given, making me happy.
Can't say I'd come back again when I've been looking for ONE good burger, and I can''t say this was it. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
8/12/2011
Nice Patio. Ok service. Decent Eats. Too Many Hipsters.
I only sampled Poutine and Fries. Both were all right. San Pelligrino comes in large bottles! There is a chickpea burger that looks interesting.
The vibe of this place is not for me. Two Girlfriends and I walked in wearing straight-from-work dresses / blazers etc and were immediately sized up by honestly every single table. All eyes on the door. It was ridiculous. Get over yourself Ossigntonites.
I will be trying the burger on the Queen E location. -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
Did you ever watch The Price is Right? Do you remember those horns they used to play when someone lost a game?
http://www.hark.com/cl...
That's what they should play when you take a bite into the burger I had at BQM. I had the Stem (fried egg and bacon) with sirloin. I asked for it medium rare... it came medium. Which, at this place, apparently means burnt on the outside. Even the bacon was burnt. Blech. It sucks to pay $13 for a burnt burger. The fries were pretty good, but on the other hand, the soda was flat. At least the people that worked there were nice, and that patio looks like an awfully nice place to be in the summer. Maybe I just went on an off day, so I'll try it again, but based on this visit I'm in no big hurry.Listed in: Burgers in Toronto: The Good,…
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Review from Michele T.
9/5/2011
Falafel and the vegetarian burger are the same but different shapes.
I hate ordering 2 differently named items but in actuality they are the same. -
Review from Rian D.
Montréal, QC
3/20/2011
I stopped in here with a buddy for an impromptu lunch. He is a huge fan of the place but I was popping my BQM cherry.
Mind you my review can only apply to their vegetarian burger options, but his bacon accessorized meaty version looked and smelled glorious (yes, I made him let me smell it). Also, they ask you how you want your burger done (rare, medium, well done) which is pretty rad.
There are 2 vegetarian options; a tofu burger and a chickpea burger. I picked the chickpea burger based on the waitress' recommendation. I was good albeit mushy... I was hoping for something that resembled more of a burger patty.
Price wise it isn't the cheapest, $8-$14 for a burger, and it doesn't come with any sides, those are extra. Not really worth it for the chickpea burger in my opinion, but I'm sure the meat burgers warrant that pricetag more.
The onion rings are magic though. not overly greasy and deliciously crispy. Apparently they go amazingly with the garlic aioli dip, which we ordered but didn't get until we'd already finished the onion rings. For the record they taste great with ketchup too. There was only one waitress in a packed joint and she took forever, but she was friendly and apologetic.
I don't know that I would voluntarily go back there on my own volition but if friends wanted to go there I wouldn't be opposed and I do want to try the tofu burger. It is a quaint little burger joint, nice look and feel about it.
If I ate meat I'm sure I would have given more stars, my buddy said his burger was better than any he's had a Kraft Burger, but as for the veggie options, I've had better.
Bonus: they have a patio. A teeny tiny one.
EDIT: I bumped it up to a third star... only because I went back with a friend and tried the tofu burger. It was super tasty and much better than the chick pea mush patty and the server we had was much more quick and efficient. Still not one of my hotspots though.Listed in: Vegtastic Omnomnoms, Meh, I've had better
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Review from Julie T.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 5/11/2011
I previously wrote a 3-star review for my first experience at BQM, but after my second - and last - visit, I now understand why the reviews are so mixed.
I grabbed a five-burger order with some large fries to take to over to a friend's house, with the chuck done medium. The service was fast and pleasant enough for a Saturday afternoon and the order was ready quite quickly. When I got to my destination, however, I found that they had mixed up a burger in our order - we were given a Natural with cheese instead of the Swiss Red, and my friend was pretty miffed. To top it off, 3 out of the 4 meat burgers (all ordered medium) were so rare they were bleeding into their buns after the first bite. (I tried to feed my cat the chuck my friend refused to eat, and even he wouldn't touch it.)
When it came to my tofu burger, I unwrapped it to find three burnt black pieces of something (fries?) pressed into the bun, as if those were sitting on top of the wrapper when they plunked the burger on there and wrapped it up. How can you miss that?? I picked them off and ate it anyway, with the burnt flavour dancing across my tongue on the first bite. Not for long, though, because the spice rub on this tofu slab was so hot I couldn't taste anything for the rest of my meal. The last time I ordered the tofu burger, there was a light bit of seasoning on it but very plain for the most part. Why the inconsistency? I don't understand how the same burger could be so vastly different.
We were hugely disappointed with this meal. I didn't even bother calling in because we were far away on that point, and I wasn't going to trek back to get a refund.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/23/2011
BQM is a neat little burger place on a trendy strip of Ossington, great for a leisurely lunch. When… Read more »
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Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2011
This roughly refined restaurant sits on the cusp of Little Italy/Portugal Village. BQM settled into this flagship location in the fall of 2008 and has been satisfying its customers since. Its take-out brother is located in Riverdale, and the newest sibling is a diner on Queen that caters to all the hungry little shoppers.
I find it funny that many delicious ideas come to fruition after a Torontonian visits New York. BQM's founder is no different. After heading down south, Saeed Mohamed was inspired to serve fresh, locally sourced burgers. And to me, it tastes like Toronto's best.
This afternoon my favourite duo and I met up for some quality time, and some quality meat. It`s always hard to pick a burger because their choices all sound so yummy. I'm still working my way through the menu. Today I decided on the Ossington - portobello, mozzarella, balsamic glaze and garlic aioli - while my buddies had the Sirloin Burger. With so many choices (including non-meat ones) and a selection of other tempting dishes - mac n cheese, pulled pork sandwich, etc. - be prepared to take a decisive stand. Whatever you pick, add some fries and gravy. BQM is YUM! -
Review from Dimitrios D.
7/26/2011
The burgers are good but the meat was a bit gristly.
The poutine is 'eh'- the cheese was melty and didn't have the squeak that I expect from cheese curds.
It's a cute place and the waitress was very nice! -
Review from Talal A.
Toronto, ON
12/11/2011
Honestly ive eaten at burger joints around the world so i know them well..
was the burger well cooked? absolutely... however it tasted like it had no seasoning whatsoever. not even the juiciness from the Fat (barely any) or the cheese on top could pick up a HINT of flavour. The Aeoli was mediocre and the fries soggy and mushy..
wasnt even take out!
Plus the waitress assumed i wanted it medium rare like my wife (not the case)..
Nice place and atmosphere but my god what a poor burger sadly..
honestly wont be back again.. -
Review from Erin B.
6/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Harumph. I really wanted to love BQM. I love the idea - their meat is from Ontario farmers (the menu has a little map with cute stars marking the locations of the farms) and I love to support local food. They're also close to home. And I love me a good burger!
But, as so many others have said, BQM was disappointing. I spent a lazy afternoon here, basking in the sunshine (finally!) with a couple of friends. The patio is in full direct sun for most of the afternoon but it looked like they were measuring for an awning while we were here, so perhaps the future holds some relieving shade.
Our server was sweet, but not good. Service rates as just barely adequate.
Beer selection is pretty good, if a bit pricey. They have a daily beer special (Sapporo was on for 5$) and if you can stomach whatever's on special, that'll work out well for you. They also have a few local-ish brews on draft and an interesting selection of bottles (though nothing you can't find up the street at the small LCBO, so I'd be reluctant to pay for them here).
But the food... The food was the real disappointment. The burger itself was good. It wasn't amazing. It was just good. And for $11, with no sides, I'd hope for an amazing burger. We also ordered a large side of sweet potato fries ($5) to share (between three of us). Those weren't good. They were soggy and the serving was just wee.
And the presentation was weird (Yes. The presentation. That is what I'm going to gripe about). They served the burger all by itself on a large white plate, with not so much as a sprig of parsley to distract you from the fact that fully half the plate was completely empty. The empty space on the plate just seemed to emphasize the fact that you're paying $11 for Just A Burger. It's like the presentation was designed to taunt me. Weird.
Maybe they were having an off day, but I wasn't impressed. I'd go back to have a pint on the patio, but I wouldn't go back for food. There are too many other good options nearby to give them another shot at that. -
Review from Paul R.
Toronto, ON
3/26/2011
We stumbled upon this place when the pizza joint across the street was an hour wait (you know the one). We both ordered burgers and shared some sweet potato fries. We both asked for the burgers to be "well done" but when they came they were bleeding on the bun. The waiter took them back but was unapologetic for the mix up. The fries ended up being our appetizer. Burgers came back later cooked adequately but I don't think they are any better than Gourmet Burger Co which is half the price and has never screwed up my order. I know they are two different kinds of places so it's hard to compare price, but when burgers are your speciality you've really gotta do them well so I feel like I'm getting some value for my dollars.
Place was packed on Friday at 7 so they must be doing something well, but overall experience was definitely "Meh."Comment from Saeed M. of BQM 3/26/2011
Hi Paul, I apologize for the mix up - many of our regulars… More » -
Review from Alex c.
Toronto, ON
9/29/2010
In the first year BQM opened, we were regulars with our favorite seats at the bar. We would drop in at least once a week for burgers. Times have changed - we haven't been back since early summer. The burgers are just not the same quality. The meat mushy and falling apart, the buns not as fresh, the wait excruciating. My preferred beer constantly out at the tap. Now, I hear there's a new chef, so we'll give it a month or so before we go back for some burgers and poutine.
Saeed, if you're reading this, please bring BQM back to it's opening glory.Comment from Saeed M. of BQM 3/9/2011
Alex we now have new chef running the show, come by and let… More » -
Review from Clara K.
Toronto, ON
11/20/2011
My friend had a medium rare sirloin burger last night and is now suffering from food poisoning. Called to complain the next day and they seemed too busy to care. Saeed the Owner contacted me and he gave a very thoughtful and concerned response. Staff has been reminded on how to respond to complaints. Saeed offered that I come to check out their kitchens myself. They are trying their best to maintain a safe food environment and good service.
Comment from Saeed M. of BQM 11/20/2011
Hi Clara, Our beef is ground fresh daily and we maintain… More » -
Review from Kat F.
7/19/2009
The prices at BQM are prohibitive enough for me to consider rating the place a 2 even though the food was terrific. $8-12 for a burger, depending which one you get (admittedly the options look awesome) and then $5-6 for a side of fries or sweet potato fries (you're paying extra for them being 'hand cut'). So $13-18 just for a combo, and that doesn't even include a drink!
I ordered the mac & cheese, which had a three cheese cream sauce topped with white cheddar and chopped tomatoes. You could tell the cheese was good quality and it was just cheesy enough to comfort me but not make feel like a lactard. Once again, $13 (!!) for a bowl of mac & cheese is too much, even though the portion was huge and I could only finish half.
Decor is beautiful with exposed brick, a nice rounded wood bar, and cool artwork on the walls. Massive beer and wine collection. Our server was cordial but overly perfumed/musked - I know I have the nose of a Bloodhound but I should not be able to tell when you've walked by just from detecting your scent!
Open up your wallet and try this place out if you want a gourmet burger, at least once. I don't think I could afford to go here on a regular basis!Listed in: Mac & Cheese
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Review from Kent P.
6/23/2010
BQM thinks they're a lot better than they are.
I had the "Shoppe" burger - Carmelized onions, horseradish, tom., grns., & aioli for $10
I had a beer, too.
So I got one burger and one beer and the bill was like $20. And no fries.
Was this the best burger I've had? No way. The worst? Nope. It was OK. Like 7 dollars OK. All I could do was stare out the window to Libretto across the street and think about the waaaaaaaaaaaaaay better pizza I could have got for less.
Also, the inside of this place is dark and dingy.
two pats of out of five.
patpat
(Not very many pats)Listed in: ALL HYPE
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Review from Noel D.
6/18/2009 ROTD 6/26/2009
Checked this place out last night and had an incredible burger. I believe it was the called The Ossington? Whichever one comes with mushrooms. I thought about getting a double but glad I didn't because I was pretty full, combined with a $3.75 pint of beer, which is the special for Wednesdays. Can't beat cheap draft.
Our waitress was amazing. So efficient and friendly. Always smiling and helping us decide the best level to have our burgers cooked at. The presentation of the food is great as well. Open-faced burgers on nice dishes. The onion rings and poutine in separate bowls as well. The place itself is really nice looking. Clean and simple and it was packed even though it was pouring rain outside.
My only complaints are that the poutine was crispy fries, which doesn't really work for poutine in my opinion. It doesn't quite soak up the gravy and curds properly. Also, they had the worst music playing -- some sort of mid-90s alternative one-hit-wonder radio station like Kid Rock and Green Day. It wasn't quite the right vibe.
Anyway, I can't wait to go back and try their other burgers! And it was surprisingly cheap for the three of us. We all chipped in a 20 for three burgers, pints, onion rings and poutine, and that includes our generous tip for our awesome waitress.Listed in: Reviews of the Day
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Review from Kelly O.
12/23/2009
This place was OK, but I'd definitely not go out of my way to eat here. It was too expensive for what it was (2 Natural burgers, 2 sodas, and 1 fries, 27 bucks).
The burgers all come medium cooked, so be prepared to ask for well done if you don't like your patties pink.
Decor was lovely, they serve booze (which is a HUGE redeeming factor). The service was sooo bizarre though! Friendly - but it was like dealing with the absent-minded professor. She had to ask twice what our order was, and not cause she forgot, but because she didn't remember even talking to us in the first place!
Altogether, I'm underwhelmed. -
Review from Melissa J.
Toronto, ON
12/31/2008 5 photos
BEST BURGER I'VE HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
Seriously.
Originally when this place was in the process of opening, I thought it was going to be a meat store. Which was fine and everything, but I'm ecstatic that it is what it is -- an awesome local joint with phenomenal food, and a great place to grab a drink.
Inside, it's very cottage-y -- a wooden picnic table down the centre of the restaurant will do that. Everything else, from the pictures on the walls to the dim lighting, makes it feel really cozy and warm. On that note, try to stay away from the door on a cold night, it can get quite chilly and will make your burger sad.
And the burgers. They have a menu filled with a page of burgers, as well as comfort food like Mac & Cheese, and even a couple salads. But it's the burgers that I am craving already. They're cooked to perfection, and they're made with the perfect amount of pepper and spice -- they've definitely got a bit of kick to them, and I love that. I ordered the Ossington, which had a portobello mushroom, mixed greens, and a tomato. Sounded on the skimpy side for toppings (I'm used to my burgers being a foot high) but you don't want anything to take away from the flavour of the patty itself. Trust me.
Their poutine is definitely worth eating too -- it had amazing cheese on it, and their gravy was too good to be out of a package.
All in all, this place is my new favourite burger joint. It already looks like it's pretty popular, and it's been open less than a month, so expect line-ups in the near future. But I would wait in any line to have that burger again...and I hate lines, but I love these burgers. -
Review from Teena D.
9/4/2010 2 photos
I ordered the Riverside burger (bacon, mozzarella, BQM BBQ sauce, onion ring and garlic aioli) and a Diet Coke.
At $9 a burger (fries and/or salad are extra), it's not cheap ... but it was delicious!
The most well-done you can get it is medium but it was barely pink. It was very juicy and tasty. The BBQ sauce was a bit tangy and blended well with the garlicy aioli.
I'll definitely be back for another burger! -
Review from cailen s.
Oakville, ON
7/19/2009
The prices are the only thing that make me give this 3 stars. Thankfully I didn't get a burger and didn't deal with the cost of adding fries so I didn't deal directly with the most costly elements of this place.
I got poutine with BBQ sauce and pulled pork and it was fantastic and much more economically priced at $8-9 (I can't remember which, ha). It was a huge portion and all the ingredients tasted fresh and the gravy was steaming. I would definitely recommend a poutine as the cheap option here. -
Review from Morley B.
3/27/2009
I recently had the pleasure of finally trying the newly opened BQM on Ossington, just south of Dundas.
I like the warm, western and friendly feel to the place.
It seems like a place you could just hang for a few beers or get something to eat.
I had one of the signature burgers while my guest had a veggie burger.
Both were outstanding.
The fries are great as well.
I like that they had a few micro brewery beers on tap.
My new favourite place for a burg and beer.
It's great that this place offers local/slow food and endeavours to educate their customers on beef, food, and organics. You can tell they're dedicated to their craft and it shows in all aspects of this place.
Yeah, I know, most of my reviews are bitter rants but I have to say, this place was great, I loved it - great food, warm atmosphere, modestly priced and pretty good service.
The only reason I gave them 4 stars was because I want to go back a few more times to make sure they deserve a 5, but my first experience there was 5 star all the way.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Dave L.
Toronto, ON
11/10/2009
The atmosphere is very trendy and comfortable. Great decor with exposed brick and nice details like a high shelf running just below the ceiling with various knick knacks displayed on it. A large mirror leaning against the wall behind the bar expands the space and lends a hip touch to the place.
The draft beer list is well laid out. It accommodates tastes ranging from Blanche de Chambly to Tankhouse and the wine list has a similar wide range.
Now sadly the burgers is where this place fails to deliver, the overall thrust of the place. The burger was good but I must say I classify it as underwhelming for what I expected. The meat wasn't very flavorful and the toppings just seemed to overpower it completely. There really isn't much to say about the burgers simply because they're not awful but they're certainly not great. A very straight forward, boring hamburger that you can get at many places but usually with fries and usually under $15
Sadly disappointing place that misses with it's main intention but delivers on the setting and beverages... Now what's with the burgers?! -
Review from Christopher P.
Toronto, ON
12/2/2009
This was my most disgusting dining experience of the year. The kitchen knowingly served me spoiled food.
I ordered a B&B sirloin burger, a side of Yukon gold fries and a chipotle ailoi. The burger arrived open faced: patty on one half of the bun and toppings on the other side. I lifted the tomatoes and found that the cook had piled rotting mesclun mix there. Not just the odd spot of ick - it was all decaying. On the other side, there were two pieces of bacon on top of the patty, but one piece was so burnt that it was black and dry. I took these off the burger and took two bites, but realized that I was paying $11 for this puppy.
I showed the waitress what I had discovered, and she apologized and took my plate away. Five minutes later, she returned my plate, which now had four pieces of properly cooked bacon and what amounted to a side salad of greens - but the same burger! I called her back and told her that the burger she returned had had rotting vegetables on it and that I wasn't prepared to eat it. I told her that I had, in fact now lost my appetite and would rather just settle up.
The final total for my fries (not special or particularly generous) a coke and a side of mayo (once again, not generous) was over $7! Plus $2 for the service. I will never go to this place again. E V E R. There is no excuse for serving spoiled food to your customer. -
Review from Devan R.
11/4/2009
BQM is a neat little burger shoppe located at Dundas and Ossington right opposite Pizzeria Libretto. I mention this because if it weren't for PL's 1 hour wait I may not have ended up hitting this acclaimed burger joint.
BQM prides themselves on fresh quality meats, a comfortable ambience, import brews and great service. Unfortunately for me, the meal did not quite match up to the majority reviews I heard. Don't get me wrong, it was a solid meal, but not great.
Whenever I visit a new resto where there are a multitude of options (in this case roughly 10 burgers to select from) I tend to ask the waiter/ress what the most popular/best tasting item is, and that was exactly my course of action here. Without hesitation she led me to the Riverside Burger: BQM BBQ sauce, bacon, mayo, lettuce, tomato, mozzarella, topped with a home-made onion ring. I decided to go all out like Kanye and stepped up my beef from Angus to Sirloin and I added another patty! I figured a $17 burger would be one to remember.
When the burger arived it was at least 4" high and I had to strategically eat it from top to bottom. In regards to the patty I was anticipating (as advertised) a medium rare burger but the 2 patties were somewhat dry. I saw deep char marks on them as well indicating to me they could have been flipped and taken off the grill in a more timely fashion. Maybe because we had a table of 8 the chef became a touch flustered back thurr. I was sooo hungry though that I couldn't bother to send it back and I just ended up eating it. Positive notes on the burger were the BBQ sauce, it was so rich, smoky and bold in flavour, I loved it. When it mixed with the mayo and bacon it was delicious. The home-made onion ring on top was so gargantuan so crunchy and so satisfying, definitely one of the best onion rings I have ever eaten and I'm hella glad we ordered a side of them.
In addition to the burger we tried the Uber poutine: chorizo, caramelized onions, real old fashioned gravy & cheese curds on yukon gold hand cut fries. Out of 10 I would give the poutine a 7. I'm a caramelized onion slut so that was a high note for me, other than that the poutine came off a bit bland and the chorizo bits were not too impressive. The old style gravy was nice, it was a bit runnier than most and not as dark, but tasted fresh and house made.
Overall I had a decent meal. I don't want this to come off as a bashing review but I had a good time and the food was good. I have a hunch that the food has the potential to be much better, so I will definitely be back. -
Review from Mitch S.
Toronto, ON
4/27/2010
Finally a place in Toronto dedicated to good burgers and beer! Overall BQM has definitely been the best burger I've had in Toronto and coupled with a good beer it really can't be beating if this is what you're craving!
I have tried the Queen St location, but the one Ossington is definitely worth the trek if you're looking for a quality burger! -
Review from Camille K.
North York, ON
9/7/2009 2 photos
As hard as I tried to love this place, I just didn't find my burger (The Sirloin) particularly fantastic. It was cooked properly (it did have a tiny bit of burnt taste at the very beginning) but the overall burger itself was tasteless.
I did enjoy the sweet potato fries and plan to try this place again to try the Ossington and poutine. I know I'm going against the grain here with my review but I just didn't love this place as much as fellow Yelpers. -
Review from Marie B.
Toronto, ON
9/25/2009
I've been here several times (once because the line up at Pizzeria Libretto was insanely long) and I'm not as impressed as I'd like to be.
As previous reviewers have mentioned, its pricey. The burgers are ok - served medium well unless otherwise requested. A little dry at times. The sliders are a little on the dry side - I would have liked them to be served with some toppings (lettuce, tomato, etc.). The buns are ok - you can tell they are fresh. But it lacks substance.
I've had the poutine, sweet potato fries and onion rings. The onion rings are more like "onion steaks". The sweet potato fries were decent. The poutine gravy was lacking in flavor and sadly, they do not use curds.
So would I go there again? Maybe, but to try more non-burger options. -
Review from Roy A.
Toronto, ON
7/17/2009
Yes the burgers are great. I had the Ossington with a tofu patty. But $9 for a burger by itself?? Much too pricey. Also the sweet potato fries were lukewwarm & dry...
I just can't justify spending $15 for a burger and fries when that could buy me so much more. -
Review from Janna S.
6/7/2010
Why do some places confuse filthy with trendy? You really don't need to be ashamed about having a clean bathroom...really. I promise I won't think less of your establishment, nor will I find it inauthentic, okay? However, I sincerely appreciate the oh-so-ironic-yet-tacky "e" you included in "Shoppe".
I went here with a group of hungry friends on a hot afternoon - we happened to be walking by and noticed a patio, so that sealed the deal. After scanning the menu for what seemed like forever ( plenty of appealing meaty options), I ordered the chickpea burger, which proved to be a tasty choice, albeit somewhat sloppy. I guess that's sort of the point with burgers, no? I'm not really a burger connoisseur, but these seemed a bit pricey considering the portion size. -
Review from Shaz S.
Toronto, ON
10/19/2010
this is one of my fave places for gourmet burgers - the ossington location (the queen east location is takeout only)! they have 17 kinds of burgers plus a veggie option and other sandwiches, they're all worth trying...the meat is fresh and top quality, and their patties are huge. their sweet potato fries and poutines are delicious! roasted beets, brie, blue cheese, portabello mushrooms...just a few of the toppings. they have a special aioli sauce that comes in a few flavors, garlic, chipotle...so good!
i gave it four stars just cos the service isn't the best...but good enough cos the burgers make up for it. it's about $12-15 per person incl. sides (they're not included with the burgers)
must try: brie burger & the ossington burger with sweet potatoe friesListed in: ...a few good places to get…
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Review from Billy K.
Toronto, ON
11/9/2010
Ok so this place is right by where I work and one day I was craving a pulled pork sandwich. Mistake. Pulled pork was dry with little to no bbq sauce. The coleslaw was dry also. They put cheese curds on it as well, which isn't my fave to begin with. The onion ring on it was a nice touch. The space is great and has a nice vibe when you walk in, but $12 for a dry pulled pork with no sides included... I'm not going back any time soon.
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Review from Kat T.
7/6/2009
This place is supposedly the best for the burgers. But, in reality, the poutine is my favorite in the city. The poutine gravy is (ahem, not vegetarian) but has little bits of Portobello mushrooms. The new waiter told us the ingredients, but all I know is that the mushrooms really worked well with squeeky cheese and fries.
Listed in: A tourist guide to the T-dot, Killing me softly...
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Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
8/19/2009
This place is right around the corner from my house, and when they announced their opening I was pretty excited. I am a burger lover, have been since childhood when my daddy would bbq them over charcoal. BQM is not shy about touting their provenance of fine farm fresh ingredients. So I was quite disappointed upon my first bite, as I expected so much more. I have been back with lowered expectations and still just wasn't impressed. The "quality" just isn't there for me after all their exhortations of grandeur and the high price tag for just a burger with additional charges for each and every topping. I half expected them to charge for ketchup, that's how nickel and dimey they are.
The service is nice, and the food isn't bad. it's just to pay $20 for a burger, fries and a drink while they brag on and on about how amazing their burgers are, you expect a lot more. I blame BQM - they set themselves up and do not achieve.
I do recommend the onion rings. mmmmm..those were some good onion rings.Listed in: Ossington Village (Dundas and…, To-go
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Review from James K.
Toronto, ON
6/7/2009
Riverside burger $9. Excellent. It's better than their other location in Riverdale, but that's great too. They asked if I would like it medium, and I said yes. It came well done. It was still excellent.
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Review from Rob B.
Updated - 5/23/2010
yes, stick with the burgers...
great to see the quality meat & knowledge of where it comes from & how it was raised...corn or grass fed? etc.
still they could improve...their bread for the buns is standard lifeless white bread... & sometimes my take out orders were soggy...
Suggestion: Sourdough buns or a Focaccia or?
.....but a definite improvement over standard burger joints.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/18/2009
regarding the weeknend brunch...no consistency....yet.
my second visit was disappointing...unlike the… Read more »
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Review from Mama C.
Toronto, ON
6/20/2011
Went there for some drinks and munchies on a beautiful Sunday afternoon on the patio. There were 7 of us and when we arrived there were 2 people on the patio and a large group (about 10 ppl) indoors. That's it. No one came outside to sit us on the patio so we helped ourselves and I went in to find a waiter. I find the waiter talking on his cell phone behind the bar, I wait patiently for him to get off the phone and then tell him that we're outside on the patio. He looks me straight in the face and says "Just so you know, I'm the only one here so you're not gonna get good service" and his tone was basically saying he doesn't want us to stay (like sorry we are making you have to WORK at your place of employment geeez). Normally we'd walk out but because all we wanted was a pitcher and something to snack on we thought...how bad could it be? Oh well he was right, we didn't get good service...we got ZERO service. I had to go to the bartender myself to get a pitcher of beer (who was very rude like I was bothering him) and our waiter didn't give us menus until we'd finished the 1st pitcher--about 45 minutes after we sat down. A couple of female waiters showed up in the last 1/2 hour of our stay but immediately went to serve the new customers. I had to twist the waiter's arm to get us french fries (which were tasty but a very small portion for a "large" size). Luckily we were all in good spirits and didn't let this crap joint ruin our good day. I'd not recommend this place at all...management either doesn't care or doesn't care to know.
