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Romer's Burger Bar
Category: Restaurants Burgers Burgers [Edit]
1873 W 4th AvenueVancouver, BC V6J 1M4
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
(604) 732-9545
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sat 10 am - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
115 reviews for Romer's Burger Bar
Review Highlights
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"The Man's Man was perfect in every way - crispy onions..." In 20 reviews -
"My favourite is the Magic Mushroom." In 14 reviews -
"I ordered a side of sea salt fries to share." In 7 reviews
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115 reviews in English
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Review from Luisa D.
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Holy hell this is a good burger joint!
I went here for the first time on Sunday for a birthday party. It's right in my hood but I never felt motivated to try it out. Glad that's all changed (although I anticipate a lot more exercise in my future).
We shared a pitcher of Red Racer Raspberry Wheat Ale. Damn that's a fine local brew. I had the Magic Mushroom burger and I might actually have got a buzz off this just because it was so effing good. EVEN THE BUN WAS AMAZING! That deserved ALLCAPS because I usually leave half my bun on the plate. These kind of carbs love my thighs, I mean really love my thighs. This bun was just so decadent and buttery that any willpower was broken upon first bite. My friend's eyes popped out of her head when she saw how fast we inhaled our food. I couldn't help myself though. We shared a side of onion rings. See - we have some restraint, we didn't order fries. Probably the best onions rings I've had too. Crispy, not greasy. Yum!
Our server was cute and happy to bring out the cakes our group brought for the birthday girl and make us sing. It was no problem getting separate checks. I don't think they even put an auto-grat on there, I'll have to check with my sugar daddy on that. -
Review from Peter S.
Updated - 5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Well Romer... your burgers are still decent but what did you do with those tasty fries? Powdery and plain. Now they just taste like standard diner fare. Onion rings were spot on, cooked just right.
I'm still diggin the Raspberry Wheat with the patty order!
But overall, Stackhouse beats you buns down. Sorry Romer.Listed in: Pig Out
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/19/2010
Why does it take this long to cook a burger?
Especially when it is 1pm on a Thursday and the joint is… Read more »
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Review from Deniz T.
5/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sunday morning, woke up with a need of a burger. Quick search on Yelp, all the stars with vast reviews, Romer's it is.
Close to the store three Harley Davidson's are parked with their riders chatting around them. How am I going to park this Vespa there? Bubblegums, ball caps, vintage jeans... Very redneckish... You always get the look, ''Hey! You are not going to leave your tampon here, right!!??''. Park the damn thing and walk away. Surprisingly a warm welcome with no sarcasm. Weird, for some reason specifically; dogs, bad guys and women like me, I must be tickling some form of paternity or must look helpless with the urgent need of direction.
The room is dark and somewhat well polished. Good I can hide. First head down to the washrooms, downstairs. Funny, on the floor, a marble piece says; "Everybody love everybody''... Reminds me of Will Ferrell in Semi-Pro, on the tour bus... The washrooms are spectacular, cool lounge music, marble, modern features, like a fancy night club pisser. It feels like somebody is going to knock and we will start to make out. Screw the burger, I am down...
A quick peek at the menu, promising except sous-vide Salmon... Tsk tsk tsk... Cooking in plastic bags... Order, a man's man burger, short rib poutine on the side and a double Caesar. The service is tip top. they are smiley as ever, friendly with a good distance. Very appropriate small talk, actually she is kinda sweet... It must be the washroom's effect on me, get back to your bubble, creep... Here comes the burger and the poutine.
All right here's the deal. There is NOT a fool proof juicy burger recipe. The cooking of ANY protein depends on the cook's talent and/or care level. Every piece of meat is succulent by nature, if you are drying it out, it is your own fault, not the recipe, not the poor animal, not the creation. Chicken breast is dry, venison is lean, put some eggs and breadcrumbs in the burger, etc etc etc... For example an 8 minute boiled egg in gently simmering water is considered hard boiled as well as an egg boiled on high heat for 20 minutes. One would have a succulent white with a coagulated creamy yolk, the other would feel like plastic and a sandy yolk with a purple hue to it. Proteins completely coagulate around 150F, so try to stop cooking there rather than taking it to 250F, you will always have a juicy burger whatever the recipe is. And the rest is fool proof, decent amount of sprinkle of salt and pepper -unless it is in the recipe, added to the meat-, hot grill, fresh bun, pickle, lettuce, tomato, tblsp of mayo or a condiment of choice on each side, bacon and a slice of cheese if you can find or afford, 2 to 6 minutes cooking time depending on the thickness each side, do not move around, and rest for half of the cooking time. Perfect burger every-time, that is a personal promise.
The burger; patty is fresh, somewhat juicy, grilling is OK, the heat applied was a bit too gentle, so on the grayish side. The bun was delivered on Friday I bet, tastes 2 days old, toasting didn't pull the trick, very crumbly and falling apart. What is the hype about brioche bun anyways, sounds very fancy I guess, burger is not a delicate matter, so I do not think it is a good use here. The onion crisps were at least 3 days old again and exposed to moister, chewy than crisp. Fries were OK, gravy, cold, thick and gunky, cheese curds not melted or softened, three small knobs of decently cooked short rib piece, not enough. The lube aspect of the burger is missing, carelessly smeared teaspoon of mustard, i didn't even see the mayo, juice from the burger helps, but still a mouthful of dryness... Caesar, nicely seasoned and generous on the booze. Plus a beer; $38, tip included. I don't know guys. Service is 5 stars, room is cool, concept is awesome, the execution fails, miserably.
Time for a nap. Sun, grass, book and wild turkey... Two stars for the service and my server. I will be back just to confirm and make sure it just was not a bad day in the kitchen. -
Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
If it's Easter Sunday and In-N-Out happens to be closed the day that you return from Cali to Vancouver, I have decided that Romer's is a pretty good second choice.
The burgers are huge, gluttonous and decadent. One great thing is that they are open in between lunch and dinner, which is not the case with all Sunday restaurants, I discovered.
The Man's burger and anything else was good and the onion rings were quite tasty. Beware of the dragon breath and belch-inducing after effect for guys, however. I could not quite determine if it was the garlic or the beer. All I know is that women take better care to control themselves in these situations.
I am sure that the doughnuts are as great as everyone says, but I was not about to stick around to find out after this meal!
In spite of the unrest that it caused in my male companion, I would recommend this place, but perhaps would choose a female companion on my next visit. I just wish that I knew some other Man-burger (not to be confused with man-eater) eating women. (sigh). -
Review from Kate H.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 4/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Still a 5 star for Romer's for me. Tried both locations -- kits is still very lively and fun, while the river district has a beautiful patio with a view of the river and perfect for a sunset.
Only updating my review because I see a lot people giving 4 stars, usually for price. I just want to put out there that you are getting free-range, locally raised, organically-fed meat that's so fresh it might look up at you. This is the beef, the chicken, pork, salmon, all of it.
If you went and bought ground up, grass-fed, local beef from your butcher, and all the toppings you would need (depending on which burger) and some fresh brioche buns from a good bakery, I still don't know you'd even save much money. Maybe you'd come up with $8 for the home-made version -- so to have a professional chef prepare it for you for $12 is pretty amazing to me, when I really think about it. (they have to pay their rent (upwards of $6000 a month I've heard) pay their staff, heat the place up, keep super fresh stock, advertise, etc etc etc etc).
Okay so that's my little rant. It won't stop people from harping about the price but if you want ethical, quality meat, you have to pay. And really, Romers in on par with Milestones, Earls, etc -- and those places are not buying local, free-range meat. You might be getting fries but I still don't think it's worth it anywhere else but Romers.
(also still pleased to note that the drinks are still quite affordable, delicious, and large! -- usually the first thing to get a price hike ... go Romers!)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/7/2010
OH MAN. Romers is the best. I love everything about it top to bottom.
First, the decor is fab. You… Read more »
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Review from SipDrinkNosh O.
North Vancouver, BC
4/9/2012 2 photos
Whenever I get my walk in with my younger brother in Kits, we hit Romer's. He wants to watch hockey, and I want good food, and not to be ensconced in the fading, cigarette-perfumed, crushed velvet booth of an old beat up Pub.
Romer's Burger Bar is pretty and young just like the rest of Kits, and so are its burgers. All of the ingredients are local and organic if possible, and this really adds to the flavor.
I've tried the Chorizador (great!), the Magic Mushroom, The Man's Man, Righteous Rib, the So-Cal and even the salmon burger. All in all, each is unique, with great buns and well thought out ingredients that pair well together. Some can be a little dry at times, such as the Righteous Rib, but its because there is so much darn meat on that baby..more gorgonzola garlic sauce please!
The sides are great too, though not as to die for as the burgers. The fries are interesting though could be crispier sometimes. On a side note, when I was at DB Moderne, I fell in love with pomme Souffle..I so wish Romer's would have these as a side...I'd be there licking the counters everyday....
My only complaint is that their desserts are awful. They are unappetizing and don't sync well with the rest of the menu. Guys, hire a pastry chef...let him/her craft a few appetizing sweets to match your mouthwatering burgers. -
Review from John G.
Vancouver, BC
4/1/2012
There are a couple of things I really like about this pub and its food.
For one thing, it's only a 15-minute walk from where I live, so in the summer, it's a very pleasant outing - and if I have more than one beer, I don't have to worry about driving.
That being said, there is room for improvement.
The burgers are pretty good; however, I wouldn't say they're the best I've had. Too much bun, and I'm not crazy about the buns. The meat is good, though.
Tried their rib sliders recently - very tasty - but again, W-A-Y too much bun for the amount of pulled pork on them.
Their best feature is their yam fries. They are hands-down the best yam fries I've ever tasted. Nothing else is even within a country mile of them. Be prepared for a yam-gasm. Seriously.
They come with banana ketchup and chipotle mayo. But the fries are so damn good, I prefer'em straight up.
Decent selection of local draft beers. They make a great "Beerita," too. (Russell lager mixed with tequila, triple sec and lime juice. Very tasty and refreshing.
Pretty good service, and an outdoor patio in the summer gives you a view of the Fraser River.
Price is the other factor keeping this from rating a "4". While the food, service and locale are all pretty darn good, you really pay for it. The prices and food are better at Burger Heaven in New Westminster.
But for those days when I don't feel like driving that far, Romer's will do just fine, thank you. -
Review from Crystal L.
Burnaby, BC
Life is about healthy balance. Come to Romer's Burger and throw the idea of health out the window!
There is an option to sub lettuce for a bun but it costs .75 extra. Yes, you will be punished for daring to think healthy here.
My boyfriend said he can't think of where he has had a better burger than Romer's. I have to agree with him there. A place that specializes in burgers is bound to have a pretty decent one! They get docked a star because I think it's silly that the burgers don't come with fries or anything, and it seems to be a fairly common complaint.
The magic mushroom burger was delicoius, the combination of argula, boursin cheese, and lots of portobellos really made for a killer burger. -
Review from Kevin B.
Vancouver, BC
2/15/2012
This is pretty much my favorite burger joint in Vancouver thus far. Although I hear there are some out there I have yet to try! Must get on that.
Anyway, they call themselves a 'Burger Bar', and that's pretty accurate. It's a bar, kind of sports-bar-ish for sure, but a little comfier, especially if you get a booth. These types of places can get very loud, but it wasn't too bad each time. However when your favorite local sports team is playing I imagine it would be something else entirely.
There's lots of variety on the menu for different types of burgers and beverages. The bartenders are creative enough to whip up something interestingly non-alcoholic for you if you so desire. There's a good pick of sides too, though a lot of people don't like that you have to order everything seperately, including fries. I don't mind that fact, because maybe I don't want fries!
The food itself is top-quality, always really flavorful, and the burgers are just on the right side of messy, never dry. Buns are satisfyingly soft without falling apart too easily. The spicy pickles are definitely good along with the fries.
The service is pretty great every time I've been there as well. It's excellent for a small group, but I had a birthday party there and it's a little tough when you have a very large number of people. The establisment was very accomodating, but due to the size of the place there just isn't enough room to seat 15+ people at the same place. We split into two groups close by, and it worked well enough.
The only thing holding me back from giving them 5 stars is the price. It's top-quality food and still reasonable, but since the burgers are about $10-12 and sides are seperate, it gets a little expensive and I couldn't see myself eating here super often. But still a great place to go every once in awhile when I'm craving a great burger! -
Review from Nancy W.
2/25/2012
Romer's Burger Bar located down by the Fraser River in an undeveloped neighbourhood in Vancouver just off Kerr St and Marine Drive. This soon to be erected community by Polygon Homes in the Killarney / Fraserlands area will soon be known as the River District. Romer's actually appeared as one of the selling points when we went to check out the show homes. Live at Polygon and enjoy a burger!
Romer's is also home to the Kitsilano / West 4th area (where Pinky's used to be). This burger joint is born of the creation by Executive Chef Jim Romer boasting all natural burgers in Vancouver.
Imagine a beautiful Saturday morning, the sun is shining and the air is crisp. It's been a couple of rainy weekends and Dave and I were excited to be out. Arms around each other we stumble upon Romer's for a late lunch (wait this sounds a lot like Dave's perfect Saturday morning at Oakwood Canadian Bistro (click).
Romer's exterior and interior boasts a lot of wood furnishings. I love the natural yet sophisticated and laidback approach. The atrium itself is a beautiful glass window retreat with a spectacular view of the river, pier and pathways where couples, children and dogs interact.
It was such a beautiful day as we sat in the atrium chatting that we almost forget to order food. But of course, our stomaches eventually growled. There is a lot of unique choices of burgers. The burger of the month was the Chorizodor Burger (a popular item that is now permanetly on the menu!). All burgers comes with garlic olive and pepperoncini on the side A nice touch sans fries.
The Chorizodor Burger $13
House-made chorizo spicy patty, topped with cheddar, pepper jack and creamy boursin, fresh avocado slices and Diablo sauce
Juicy! The burger was thick and loaded with avocados. The spicy patty was firey but not so much to overshadow or kill your tastebuds.
Man's Man Burger $11
Thick-sliced applewood bacon, local creamery amber ale cheddar, onion strings, smoked alder salts, vine-ripened tomato, whole grain mustard
Yummy onion strings was a great additon of texture. This was a hearty burger and even though I only had half, I was pretty full. Perhaps I am not man-ly enough for this burger but I really enjoyed the whole grain mustard and bacon along this juicy patty.
Garlic Fries $5
Fresh cut fries doubled cooked with sea salt and sprinkled with minced garlic. The fries were alright, towards the soggy side and not crispy enough. The cilantro shavings are a nice addition. Also more garlic flakes would make this even better!
Dips (garlic dill or chipotle aioli) are addtion 60 cents per and the truffle oil version is only available at the Kits location. We were so full by the end that we needed to pack the fries to go. Somewhat annoyed that the waitress did not pack our barely consummed dip to go as well (something I wished I had checked before leaving).
Thomas Kemper Root Beer
Delicious. Fizzy and complemented by sassafras, vanilla and honey flavoring.
I heard the Onion Rings $7 are pretty good and are dusted with Reggiano cheese. We shall have to try this again sometime. -
Review from Stéphane D.
Burnaby, BC
4/15/2012
Was stuck in the area and starving. Our Yelp app pointed at first to a non-existant Subway restaurant, so we settled for the way over-priced Romer's.
I got the chorizo patty burger. $13 for the burger and two tiny throw-ins: AN "amazing" garlic olive and pepperoncini. I wasn't sure what the latter would be, turns out it's the little yellow/green pickled pepper that you get with every sandwich at Quizno's. "Sea Salt Fries" (fancy!.... in 1993) were nearly $5 extra.
Everything looked pretty expensive, but this is the norm nowadays for burger joints in Vancouver. It's a bit annoying and pretentious to throw in a couple of foreign-sounding ingredients onto the menu to justify the prices. Such as soleggiatti tomatoes, creamy boursin, old bay spice, ancho starbuck spice.... zzzzzz.
As it was too full, I decided to get take-out and eat outside on a bench. They offered to call my cell when the order was ready, but maybe they were too busy, I just arrived and saw it was sitting on the counter. Decor is the typical upscale trendy you see around Vancouver (Cactus Club etc).
The location is interesting in that it's along the Fraser river. Fairly peaceful setting. View is ok if you don't mind looking at warehouses across the water.
Don't think I'll go again, based mostly on price, and partly on blandness. I was hoping the burger would have some kick. -
Review from Claire S.
Surrey, BC
12/14/2011
I am 5'2" and most would describe me as petite, but that didn't stop me from ordering the Man's Man Burger last night at Romer's. All I can say is that, for this single girl, that burger was the best piece of meat I've had in awhile. This burger filled a void in me that I didn't know I had... a burger-shaped-hole in my soul. One bite and I was in love... it had me at 'applewood bacon'.
To drink, I ordered the Fentiman's Rose Lemonade... expecting some kind of sweet, girly drink to balance out the testosterone in my burger... But no, this is a soda to be taken seriously. Even for those who prefer alcoholic drinks, it's worth a try. My friend described it as a circus in his mouth. Exactly.
And also, you have to try the donuts for dessert... they were so unexpected and completely changed my life. Who even knew that donuts needed dip!? It basically blew my mind.
Anyway, I am still recovering today from my burger-donut binge... definitely a day for ginger-ale and an elastic waistband (sexy!). But I would absolutely do it again.
Oh and also the service was fabulous - our server was friendly and attentive and there whenever we needed her. The atmosphere was also cozy and modern... but honestly the food was so good we could have been in a barn and I wouldn't have cared. -
Review from Sara-Peri K.
Vancouver, BC
1/16/2012
I want to give romers a 5 and I plan on trying everyone of their beef burgers so I will update accordingly!
I loved the burger and that alone would get a 5 :) In my opinion the meat was juicy even though others have commented on it being dry. I tried the Rodeo star burger and so did my boyfriend, we both really loved it and I thought it was very juicy and seasoned well even though I salted it profusely (I salt EVERYTHING though :p)
The garlic fries were good but they would be incredible if there was say half the amount of garlic on them so if you're ordering them ask them to season it with half the amount. I love garlic passionately but since it was fresh cut garlic and not fake seasoning it got to be a bit much at the end even though I was resourceful and spooned chunks of the yummy garlic onto my burger ;)
We also ordered the onion rings and those things were amazingly sinfully tasty! mmmmm so crispy but moist yet not soggy and the sauce was very good too.
The main reason for the 4 is that I couldnt move after I ate and not in a "I just had too much food I cant move" sort of way even though that was also a factor. I felt a tad bit of a heartburn sort of feeling and was a little uncomfortable for quite sometime after the meal if you get what im saying :S I never get heartburn and can eat LARGE quantities of meat and feel like doing jumping jacks after so it wasnt the size of the meal that did me in.
To be fair I did also have a little ice cream after so maybe that wasnt a great idea and we ordered the onion rings after we finished because for some unknown reason we were still hungry a couple minutes after we first finished.
All I'm saying is great place with great service but not a place I would recommend for a romantic evening because all you will want to do after eating at romers is plop down somewhere with hot tea, rub your stuffed no longer so little tummy and never get up :P -
Review from Ron P.
Vancouver, BC
2/21/2012
Highly reviewed and rightfully so. Custom burgers with a great variety of toppings, some quite fancy. Lots of options for french fries as well. Do they have salads, other food, don't know. If you do not enjoy hamburgers made from beef this is not the place for you!
My last visit was during the 2012 NFL Superbowl. It was crowded but we still got a booth for 4 without waiting. Service is casual but friendly. Lots of TV screens to watch the game.
Pet peeve: TV monitors are set to an incorrect frame rate, makes it look like PAL footage. This only matters to me and a few friends because we work in the business (and have to ensure correct frame rates are used for our own footage). -
Review from Sara M.
Vancouver, BC
1/16/2012
Went with some co-workers for a lunch and couldn't believe how overpriced this place was. First off, charging extra for a lettuce bun is a little crazy when it's iceberg lettuce and not a brioche bun. Second, charging for a side on top of the burger is crazy. However, when the girl said that it was because the portions were big I figured that if I ordered just the burger I wouldn't be hungry. Boy, how wrong was I.
I ended up ordering the Veggie Portobello Stack and so did two other co-workers. At 12$ and one of the most expensive burgers (and there wasn't even any meat) I was expecting something huge. What I ended up with was two tiny portobello mushrooms, a slice of red pepper, a slice of zucchini, and a slice of eggplant. I asked the waiter to hold the goat cheese, but my two other co-workers said there was barely any goat cheese on theirs either to make a difference. There were no tomatoes, no fresh basil, and no red onion either on my burger which was a pretty big mistake in my books.
I finished my meal feeling completely ripped off and not satisfied at all. I ended up paying 15$ with tip for what couldn't have cost them more than 3$...it wasn't even organic veg! I ended up walking up to the Whole Foods and buying a take-away right after for 4$ that was more filling than my entire lunch.
Needless to say, I will not be returning. -
Review from Edward L.
Romer's is one of those trendy places where one can go to be seen. Normally I would've just lumped it along with Earls and Cactus Club, but this one really is something different.
Parking isn't too bad on weekends if you try the nearby side streets.
The bar does look pretty cozy, yet trendy. There is a bar about halfway down the dining area. Staff were very friendly and attentive. There are some larger tables around, but most booths can only fit 6 at most. This bar has the best TV layout I have seen anywhere. I like how there are sets of TVs showing different channels running the length of the place. Most places either have poor TV placement, or they only show 2 channels on all their TVs.
Their burgers are mostly in the $10-12 range (if you don't count the $20 Kobe beef one). I tried the $12 "Magic Mushroom" burger, with chopped portobello mushrooms. The burgers here are actually pretty decent. The buns aren't the crappy ones you'd find on sale at the supermarket. Also they really piled on the mushrooms. With that said, that's all you get. Just a burger. If you want fries, you need to throw in a few bucks. And this is where things get special.
I got to try both the garlic and yam fries. The yam fries were fresh and hot and tasty, but this is not the highlight. The garlic fries are sprinkled with bits of diced garlic. Not sure what else they put in it, but this crack is totally worth the $5. I tried one and couldn't stop eating them. Then I got hooked on eating the garlic bits and burning my tongue off in the process. This was the highlight of my meal. If you go, GET THE GARLIC FRIES.
2 more things worth mentioning:
1) ghetto-pilsner is $15 for a pitcher.
2) They sell Fentiman's beverages here. This stuff is good, but not the cheapest at $4 a bottle. The only other place I know of that sells this product is Novo's a few blocks away. -
Review from Alex H.
12/22/2011
The good:
Delicious kobe beef burger. The side of demi glace was a little too salty for my taste but the bacon was crispy and the burger cooked perfect medium. The kobe patty does seem to lack the "beefy" favor that the other burgers have but maybe you prefer that.
Also had a side of poutine with braised short rib. While very good, I'd probably skip the short rib addition next time and not miss it that much.
The not so good:
Not sure if the server was new, but I think a burger bar should stock more than just jim beam for bourbon/whiskey. Got a shot of it any way /likeaboss -
Review from Tej H.
Surrey, BC
1/3/2012
Definitely worth adding to your 'Favorites' on your GPS.
For this carnivore the Port and Onions reigns - and for my vegetarian partner (yes you can bring a vegetarian here) - the Veggie patty in the magic mushroom continues to delight.
I agree with a previous reviewer, the Truffle Oil fries need some attention.
** Warning** leave room for the donuts - brilliantly simple. -
Review from Michael C.
Vancouver, BC
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow. great burgers! I'm actually quite impressed with this place. The pricing may bit on the higher end, but it's worth it!
Juicy meat patty with all sorts of different topping in a brioche bun... soooo good! Most of their burgers are priced around $10 (Kobe $20) and fries priced at fries $4. It's twice as much as McDonald's, but I totally pick this place over my old dear friend Ronald.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but in Canada burgers are served well done! I told one of their servers, and she said, "They normally serve the burger about medium?" Really??????? And then she goes on to say, "we receive shipments of frozen meat everyday!"
"So you order in your patties?"
"Yes!"
Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh interesting, time to ask someone else that actually won't BS me! After speaking with someone else, the manager came by and give us a free bowl of spicy nuts as we waited for the burger to be re-fired.
Besides that one random person that obviously needs to learn the menu better, the service was very friendly!Listed in: 30-Day Yelp Challenge., VanBurger
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Review from Herman E.
10/21/2011
Ahhh... the gourmet burger joint. This is a first for me. In the past I've done all of the other burger joints, although I haven't reviewed all of them.
I had the man's man burger, likely so did the majority of all the other males here. It was tasty. Fresh ingredients, cooked well and presented well. I can't remember what the SO had but it was pretty good too.
It is a bit more pricey that other simple burger joints. The difference shows in the preparation and the ingredients.
The long and short of it is, I think the place is worth trying at least once. Would I go there repeatedly for a burger fix? Unlikely, but that is not because of poor service or food. My rationale is that it is still "just a burger" and you can do it so many ways to fancy it up. Personally, Romer's is a once in a while treat, and there's nothing wrong with that!
Next up, Stackhouse, you're in my crosshairs. -
Review from Alexandra S.
Vancouver, BC
11/27/2011
If you are ever, I don't know, both hungry and not really in the mood to participate in a riot, this is an *awesome* place to hang out. You can get a good (if not life-changing) burger, and if there is a riot going on downtown, people watching it will be super friendly and talk about it and all agree that people rioting over a hockey game are idiots.
You know, hypothetically speaking. -
Review from David F.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 2/10/2012
Just went again and the burgers are still amazing. Chorizo burger was fantastic. Love the mushroom burger. Fries are excellent. Prices are very reasonable for the quality. Service is good and the beer selection is great. AND, this time I had room for the donuts and they are super amazing. One of the most delicious desserts ever. You get ten mini donuts, hot and fresh, with three different dipping sauces. Absolutely amazing. Oh, and great TV screens too.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/20/2010
Really nice room. Lots of TV's for sports and very comfortable booths.
The burgers are really… Read more »
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Review from George H.
10/6/2011
The burgers are rich, fatty, cholesterol laden, artery clogging deliciousness in a handful.
Pros:
-I love their servers, they're all amazing, fun, nice and real.
-It's rarely very busy so you can always get a table
-They play canuck games on their big screens
-Some cool different beers on tap
Cons:
-A la carte menu so a burger and fries ends up costing more then your normal place
-Can't have them more then once a month cuz of the calories
-Monthly specials look great on paper but usually aren't a homerun -
Review from Ellen L.
11/2/2011
I think fellow Yelpers have hit it home on the burgers. They're very good! Easily the best I've had. My favourite is the Magic Mushroom.
Then why only 3 stars you ask? I have a beef with them, pun intended, on the truffle fries. When Romer's just opened, the truffle fries were absolutely divine and I would happily pay the price premium. I had the truffle fries on 2 separate occasions thereafter, and it tasted just like regular fries, which isn't impressive. Inquired with the server and the answer from the kitchen was that everything was made exactly the same. We sent it back to the kitchen for more truffle oil, and it still tasted like regular fries with a very very very weak truffle aroma. Duh, they've obviously changed the recipe or is using lesser-quality truffle oil!!!
I have a weak spot for fries. Heck, I have a weak spot for all things potato! Fries are important to me, the burger is secondary. A burger from anywhere will do just fine to satisfy my occasional craving. The demise of their truffle fries = good bye Romer's. -
Review from M k.
Vancouver, BC
1/24/2012
I don't even like burgers and I randomly crave for a Romer's burger! It is so delicious! The atmosphere is pretty good too - a little less "dark" than the previous Pinky's was. The servers I have are always very nice and service is always within reason.
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Review from Maha E.
8/8/2011
Here's an example of when a place's name precedes our introduction.
Long have I heard of the rumours of Romer's Burger Bar- where burgers are not for the weak hungry wanderers. Nay, they are mountains of sweet succulence that can only be conquered by hungry beasts. A burger that requires not one, but two napkins to complete.
I... was left disappointed. After a long day of work, and very little food in my system, I fell under the category of "hungry beast," and convinced my friends that this is where we shall dine tonight.
My first disappointment was that the burgers here are not served with any sides; these must be ordered separately. For serious? Burger joints, please do not listen to the likes of Matel- there's a reason why they're going down. Batteries and sides should be included with the purchase, pleases and thank yous- especially when you have such great sides to start with! Please learn to share this happiness with the world rather than offering it as a separate entity.
My second disappointment was that I ordered the Green Chilli Chicken Cheddar Burger and it arrived alongside my friends' burgers looking incomplete and bare. I asked if I could add mushrooms to it, but I was told that it would cost an additional $2. Holy whoppers! I ate that burger quietly and boiled in jealousy as I stared at the sizes of my friends' burgers. Can we not learn to treat every burger with similar love? All burger mountains should tower at the same height, methinks.
I will say that I was incredibly impressed with their Mango Mint Iced Tea and would definitely go to town on ordering me a big vat of it.
The separate airplane style washrooms were also appreciated. It may eliminate some ladies room gossip, or elevate the likelihood that people may start a zero mile high club in the basement. ...Perhaps somebody should follow-up on that.
Recommended main deal: I couldn't tell you. I would suggest looking-up their menu online and comparing burger heights to ensure that you are satisfied with your order before ordering it. For now, I'll stick with the big vat of Mango Mint Iced Tea.
Score: I will find my mountain one day, but for now, I will settle for the Mango Mint lake. -
Review from Amanda F.
6/28/2011
Okay, I'm conflicted on this one.
Romer's has DELICIOUS food. I won't lie. Burgers to die for. There isn't much else to say about the food, because it's great.
So the reason for 3 stars?
The prices are so ridiculously high that I'll never go back.
It cost my boyfriend & I nearly $50 for two burgers, some fries and drinks! (Yep, you read that right. Almost fifty bucks!)
It was a shocking bill, to say the least, especially because the waitress didn't point out to us until after we'd ordered that the fries cost extra. That's right...for an average of 10$ a plate, you get a burger...but no fries. They cost more. Everything was a little extra.
Seriously...what?
I know that I shouldn't expect McDonalds prices, I'm not an idiot. I've been around to several of the "gourmet burger" joints around the city, but this one takes the cake for most ridiculous prices.
Honestly, if you're willing to pay, then eat here. But there are other places in town with just as high quality products....and lower prices. -
Review from Rachel D.
Richmond, BC
9/1/2011
Went to Romer's last night with my boyfriend for dinner, we were attracted by the obvious hustle and bustle inside and decided to try it out. The menu looked pretty great though, as other reviews have mentioned, a burger with no sides for $10-12 is pretty steep even for that area. I ordered the Wicked(ly?) Cheeseburger and actually felt slightly nauseated after it...in my opinion that blend just didn't work. The burger buns were lackluster and were dry and almost stale. My boyfriend had the Man's (Man?) Burger which was a lot better than mine with chopped fresh tomatoes which I thought was a really nice touch.
The drinks were ok. The half pitchers of beer were cute.
My main problem with this place was the sides. We ordered fries and onion rings to share. The fries were COVERED in fresh garlic. Not garnished but almost SWIMMING in it, I actually thought it was ridiculous at some point...I have never seen anything like it. The onion rings were also covered in seasoning and parmensan cheese which I just found really overpowering.
I don't know, maybe it was a personal taste thing but in general I left feeling a little sick.
The service was ok, the greeter was a bit hostile/silent when we refused the booth RIGHT NEXT to the half open kitchen...our server was nice though, she didn't push too hard or anything and recommended a great frozen yoghurt place nearby.
We paid $55 including tax for two burgers, two sides, a half pitcher of beer and a 5 oz. glass of red wine.
Overall, personally, I definitely will not be returning. -
Review from Jess L.
10/1/2011
Finally a place to get garlic fries in town! Until Romer's, I've had to resort to getting them at Seattle Mariner's games or The Fair at the PNE :P We ordered a few french fries variations to share - the garlic fries (these are super garlic-y - it's coarsely chopped and they really load it on), the gorgonzola garlic sauce and bacon (you'll probably need to use a fork for this one - it's really saucy), and the poutine. They also have truffle oil fries, braised short-rib poutine, and of course - regular fries.
The burgers were pretty decent too for the $10-$12 price range - a friend and I shared the 'Man's man' burger (angus beef, applewood bacon,cheddar, onion strings) and 'Romer's Righteous Rib Burger' (applewood bacon, braised short rib, sweet onions, gorgonzola garlic sauce).
And on Sundays, they have Caesars & Rocky Mountain Pilsner Sleeves for $3 - so cheap! -
Review from Natalie B.
Vancouver, BC
11/8/2011
Fabulous burgers, yummy fries, great service,
Once again I wish we could upload pictures onto Yelp.
Try their margarita/beer combo and their fries with the truffle oil. This is not a place to bring your vegetarian friend. When you walk through the doors, make a commitment not to count calories and simply enjoy yourself.
Enjoy! -
Review from Jeremy C.
8/20/2011
I was looking for the best burger place in Vancouver, and a friend recommended I try Romer's. I haven't been to enough burger joints in Vancouver to claim this is the best, but it certainly must be a contender. I will certainly return next time I'm in town.
I also liked the atmosphere: dark, booths - a great place to go with a small group (4-6 people). Friendly, helpful and attentive wait staff. It is a bit spendy for burgers, as others have noted, but I didn't feel that the prices were unfair, especially by Vancouver standards.
Oh, and they have doughnuts you can order for dessert - which I recommend. If you have room. -
Review from Cody B.
Vancouver, BC
6/28/2011
Very delicious burgers! The buns used are amazing (similar to Local) and the special at the time (tuna burger with wasabi mayo) was fantastic. You could really taste each of the flavours of the burger.
You specifically choose which side you would like to receive with the burger. I choose the onion rings, which were the best onion rings I have ever had. I have been back multiple times and have had the same side in each case. They have a hint of calamari from the sauce they give with them.
The only small disappointment I had was with the veggie stack, which was not my favourite. I thought it was a portobello burger, but it was actually as listed, a stack of just veggies. I may of been disappointed mainly because it didn't come with a bun.
Overall very good burger place. I definitely recommended it to several of my friends. -
Review from Jay B.
9/18/2011 3 photos
Oh Canada!!! It is great to be back. Our drive from Seattle, we were holding out our hunger for some Canadian food. What a treat!
I ordered the man's man burger and my other half ordered the rodeo star burger. Very artisan and cooked to perfection. The seasoning is so amazing. Glad the burgers were satisfying which made up for our hunger pains. -
Review from Chris M.
8/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Stopped in for dinner after a workout. It's a bustling place, with cushy booths and smaller high tables, apparently popular with a wide demographic. It was a bit dim inside, and loud - there was persistent Nickelbackian dude rock on the speakers, and the din of lots of people talking at once, not to mention ample visual distractions from lengthy banks of TVs.
If you can focus away from the spectacle and toward the menu, you'll find a pretty impressive selection that includes turkey, veggies, salmon, pork and extravagantly pricey Kobe on top of the naturally raised standard beef. You can go "classic" or opt for one of the inventive gourmet topping selections. There's also a rotating special, which appears to be the "full-out creative" stop.
I was disappointed to learn that sides like fries, onion rings, etc. are not included in the price of your burger - to counteract this, they bring a portion that is decent enough for sharing, but this could be a really big turn-off for some. Fortunately, not having fries isn't a deal-breaker for me - and the burgers are tasty enough to justify their price as a lone item.
I opted for the southwestern-styled "Rodeo Star." It arrived in its crisp lettuce shell, big, meaty and handsomely prepared, cooked toward the "well" end of the spectrum. I guess they don't ask your preference for doneness, and this again could put some people off, but fear not - the patty is thick, flavourful and still quite juicy, and served with just the right proportions of condiments and toppings (not enough to slop out and make a mess, but not so few that you're wondering where your tomato is.)
In summary: the food is darn good, and there's enough variety in the menu to keep you wondering "maybe I should have tried the rib one!", but Romers has quirks in their model (and their pricing) that not everyone is going to love. -
Review from Chris C.
9/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ok, after many months of searching, I think I've finally found my favourite Vancouver burger joint. It really shouldn't have been this difficult but the Port and Stilton has won me over for the moment.
I need to try out their other burgers as well, but they have the taste down right, but like other Vancouver joints, they need to refine their meat mixture in their patties -- go take a trip to New York to taste some of their patties. -
Review from Veronica D.
Vancouver, BC
8/24/2011 2 photos
Went here when I first moved to Vancouver and didn't know where to get veg food in Kits. Saw their Portobello stack and knew I had to try it. I didn't realize that there was no bun though, just a mushroom.
It took a while to cook, but when it came out it was perfectly cooked and the eggplant was amazing. The only thing is paying $12 for veggies and being hungry after kind of sucks. I asked my husband for one of his buns on his burger because it really would have been more filling to at least come with half a bun.
I enjoyed it, but might not be back for a while because of the small portion and price.
All the sides are extra so you have to pay for fries on the side to share. -
Review from Jordan S.
Vancouver, BC
5/17/2011
Romer's is the best burger joint in Vancouver. Hands down. I'll take anyone out for a meal here to prove it. Just message me.
I've been here a half dozen times and had a different burger every time. The Man's Man Burger is a perfect balance of all the best flavours, mustard, crispy onions and smoked bacon. The Righteous Rib Burger is impossible to explain in words and the Wicked Deadly Cheeseburger might be the only thing in the world that couldn't be improved with MORE cheese, though the jury is still out on that one. I might need to go back again to finish deliberations.
A telling facet of any burger joint is the fry quality and Romer's exceeds expectations here with a diverse offering of sides to please any palate.
The atmosphere is comfy and cosy, with a perhaps a few too many TVs for my taste, but that's just me.
The only recommendation I could make to them is to increase their beer list to encompass even more variety. Tons of bars in Vancouver have discovered the benefit of an extensive taps, import and local brewery list and I think Romer's could be even MORE improved with such an addition.
P.S. Buckets of pickles are my new favourite menu item. -
Review from Westcoast D.
Vancouver, BC
9/11/2011
Went for lunch yesterday and it was delish! Best burger I have ever had:) I had the salmon burger and for the portion of salmon in the burger it is VERY MUCH worth the price (I think it was $12). It was huge, flavourful and moist.
For those who think this is pricey...they gotta be joking right? There burgers are better than Cactus or Joeys and probably cheaper than theirs! The Cedar Salmon Plank at Earls is $22!!!
Also, think about it: A burrito at Chronic Tacos is $10! And it's takeout!
If you are comparing their burgers to Vera's or Whitespot then ya...it is a lot more but the quality is so much better!
Also for those who order beer, fries, onion rings and a burger and wonder why they felt sick afterwards??!! I wonder why?? That is wayyyy too much RICH FOOD.
I had water and the salmon burger and I was VERY FULL and felt fine afterwards.
But maybe they could put a small portion of asian coleslaw on the side so all the complainers who stop complaining about having nothing on the side:)
PS: brought my baby with us and they were very accommodating. -
Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
3/28/2011
In short: decent burgers at a premium price.
Alright - my buddy was feening for some burgers and I remember dropping by here once for drinks. I didn't eat my 1st time here, but it seemed like everyone really enjoyed their burgers. So I wanted to come back.
Rolled in on a Sunday and they had Caesars and $3 sleeves of Pilsner on special. Not bad. The decor is pretty nice and I really dig the deep booth seats. With the TVs, it had a bit of a sports bar vibe.
My buddy and I got the Man's Man Burger. The menu says "Thick-sliced applewood bacon, local creamery amber ale cheddar, onion strings, smoked alder salts, vine-ripened tomato, whole grain mustard"... strip off the flowery language and it's a 'bacon cheeseburger'. It was $12 for the burger alone and sides are extra - so we grabbed garlic fries ($5) and onion rings ($7). The sides are a pretty big portion and we realized it should be shared. I liked the garlic fries but the onion rings are really thickly battered - making it pretty hard to eat more than one.
My buddy didn't really like his burger at all - he didn't dig the sharp cheddar. However, I think the highlight is the glazed brioche bun - sure, there's no sesame, but it was a weird sensation biting into it. It was like biting into a char siu bao (BBQ pork bun) and then being greeted with burger innards instead of char siu. It seriously scrambled my circuits as it ran counter to my years of Chinese baked good gluttony.
Overall, the food was pretty good. But I didn't think it was worthy of the price premium or the hype. 2-star may seem harsh, but a $20 burger with fries should blow me away.
As my miser friends and I would often do, we use fast food items like units of currency: "$20? That's 10 Whoppers on Wednesday!" Definitely better than your typical fast food burger - but not 10x better. And not 2x better than any decent restaurant burger. Of course, this is assuming linearity in your personal graph of 'burger goodness' over 'price'.
And don't test me - I'll graph this shit for you if you don't believe me.Listed in: Shots Fired
-
Review from Jaden N.
North Vancouver, BC
3/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Romer's is great!
It's a trendy burger joint right in the heart of West 4th Ave and boasts an upbeat atmosphere that is enjoyed by everyone including the staff.
The restaurant was packed at 7pm on a Saturday which wasn't surprising. We were told 15 minutes for a table but were seated within 5 minutes. Awesome! I was starving and in need of a cold beer. So far service was great!
The waitress came around for our drink orders. All the beers are less than $5 for draft pints. That was a fantastic deal! I ordered the Garibaldi Honey Pale Ale which was delicious. My fiance ordered a Mango Mint iced tea which also tasted great. Very refreshing.
When it was time for food I went with the Wicked Deadly Cheeseburger. What a name! Couldn't go wrong with that one. Well...there must have been something in that name that meant "Stinky". Yes it had a smelly stench to it...probably one of the 5 cheeses they put on it. The bun was a tad oily on the top which at first i thought wasn't all that great. I try to avoid "oily fingers" as much as possible...even when eating burgers. The burger tasted great although that strange smell kept coming back as I ate. I will definitely try a different burger next time.
We also ordered a couple of appies. Tasty pickles for $2 bucks and a side of fries which were delicious. Note: The burgers don't come with fries. Never seen that before...
Beer number 2 came pretty soon after I finished the first so I was pretty impressed with the service at that point. Was really enjoying the music and people watching was easy as we were sitting higher on stools.
The washrooms are way downstairs. A bit confusing to find but they are nice and clean!
I think i'll head back with a group of people sometime soon to enjoy some $5 dollar pints and try some more of the great food selection.
