A couple of weeks back, Dill and I were hit with a mean case of Spring Fever and an intense craving for red meat. We decided to make the most of the unseasonably nice weather and get some hambourgeois to go. With the sun on our faces, we strolled north up St-Laurent until we hit Rachel.
The spot: Patati Patata
This gem of a spot is no bigger than my (very modest) living room and still manages to be a fully functional resto. The walls are colourful, warm, and display large, hand-drawn
menus. These menus are the only ones available, but are very much readable and add to the relaxed, almost canteen-like feel.
The seating is pretty limited (making it an ideal takeout spot), but those who are nimble enough to find themselves a seat may choose from a small selection of tables or the bar.
Beyond burgers, the menu offers a few other "mains" if you will; namely, fish patties, poutine, borscht (NEAT-O), and even a marinated tofu burger for our soy-loving friends. I was particularly delighted by the sides - salad and fries sold together as one unit - can you say guilt- free? But on to the more important business - the burger, of course.
Patati Patata's boeuf bourgeois has a variety of options for toppings. So many, in fact, that customers are given checklists to indicate what, exactly, they desire on their patty. This also makes things easier for the (usually) 2 people who are running the whole show (that's cooking, cleaning, serving -- you name it!). Once you've made your decision, you simply hand your checklist in with your verbal order and that's it. Although plentiful,the options are pretty basic (lettuce, tomato, mustard, etc.).
Dill and I both decided to splurge on bacon AND cheese, the "pricier" toppings (though my bacon was a free treat - win!), salad/fries as our side, and a can of soda. While we waited, we admired the 2 fellas on duty that day while they did their thang. Let me tell you, these gentleman worked speedily and with a certain grace that only someone who
really cares about their food can possess.
Even with 10 plates on the go, the attention they paid to the arrangement of veggies on each plate was remarkable. On top of that, they were crackin' jokes and totally won us over with their charm. A true delight to behold, I tell you! Despite it being a busy Saturday afternoon, we only waited for about 10 minutes for our meals.
With our box of goodies in tow, we headed to a nearby park to begin our feast. The burgers were very nicely assembled and served on a ciabatta bun. Definitely not your average bun - it was a bit course and chewy, but I loved it. It was a bun with soul, you know? The patty was tasty but a little on the small side. I sort of like slim burgers, so I was pretty satisfied, and for the price, well, I think it's a great deal. Dill agreed that it was a great deal, but, staying true to her Albertan roots, maintained that she prefers a thicker patty.
If you find yourself thinking like Dill, this may not be the best burger for you, but if you're willing to have a burger snack as opposed to a burger meal, this is the way to go. Being somewhat miniature, the burgers were pretty easy to eat (though Dill had some minor difficulties - perhaps we can attribute these to eating sans table?), even with bacon and cheese and lots of veggies. Overall, the toppings did not disappoint, although they were pretty standard, and I would totally recommend splurging on the bacon/cheese.
The fries were pretty exceptional -- not too salty or soggy, and the salad was fresh and colourful and drizzled with a nice sun dried tomato vinaigrette. The serving of fries/salad is quite generous and a nice addition to the more conservatively sized burg.
This meal scored pretty high in my books, and Dill and I did not differ too much in our ratings (even our dog friends agreed!):
Value: 4/5 (both)
Bun: 2/5 (Dill), 4/5 (Dij)
Burger: 2/5 (Dill), 3/5 (Dij)
Toppings: 3/5 (both)
Mess: 3/5 (Dill), 4/5 (Dij)
Ambience: 4/5 (both)
Service: 5/5 (both)
I am a firm believer that size is not everything, so if you're looking to consume a burger crafted with love and attention to detail, in a relaxed, ambient setting, this place is not to be missed. Plus, it's a great spot for people-watching and the tunes are pretty fly.
On a road trip to L.A. with my parents, we made the requisite stop at this classic of Americana drive-thru. The menu is simple: burger, cheeseburger, double double, fries. We grabbed a trio of double-doubles (two patties, two slices of cheese), but opted to forgo the fries. The only less than charming element of In-N-Out? The calorie count of each item on full display.
