Burger Time

I dropped by newly opened joint, Carla's Gourmet Burgers, on Saturday. It's trying to invoke a "hip family" vibe with classic photos on the wood walls, and dark tables that you can draw on with the supplied chalk. I ordered the bacon and cheese burger ($8.95) along with some fries ($2.95) and a Stewart's root beer ($2.75). It took a while for the food to arrive since it looks like they don't start cooking till you order.

The burger patty was enormous. With the extra toppings I added including tomatoes, hot peppers, and hot radish, it took two bites to go through the burger top to bottom. This was a delicious dish, the thick-cut bacon was a nice touch. The fries look like the sort of pre-cut package a restaurant can order in 10 kg bags. But when done in fresh and hot oil, they arrived in a large pile: hot, golden, and crispy. Trendier restaurants with hand-made but anemic taters could learn a lesson.

This is a great addition to the Bloor and Dufferin area. However, given the higher price, and that it is surrounded by an old age home, a high school, and various cheap pizza take-outs, Carla's may have a hard time attracting walk-by traffic.