Hamburgers of Hamilton
The Ship - 4 out of 5
Order: The Hawaiian ($15.00)
I was skeptical about the deliciousness of pineapple on a burger; however, this one pleasantly surprised me. The sweet and sour flavour of the pineapple, on top of cheddar, bacon, and ranch, added another dimension to the burger. At times, the pineapple was a bit overwhelming if it was a bite without a lot of other toppings, but for the most part, this burger satisfied my craving. Honourary mention also goes to The Ship for the best fries on this list.
Curbside Burger - 2 out of 5
Order: Greek Burger ($9.00)
As one of the few food trucks at the homecoming expo, it’s understandable that the vendor was overwhelmed. That doesn’t really account for the one hour wait time and the lack of tomatoes on my mediocre burger. The bun had potential, but wasn’t toasted and was too big for the patty. The patty itself was too charred and on the tough side. The ingredients for a good burger were present, but the execution was subpar given how much time they had to prepare the burger.
Delirious Burgers - 3 out of 5
Order: Cheeseburger with sauteed mushroom ($6.80)
Hidden in the corner of Westdale, this micro-diner offers the best bang for your buck. There’s something deeply satisfying about a well done traditional burger with a fresh classic bun. There weren’t enough sautéed mushrooms and the wait time was long considering my friends and I were the only people there. Though not the best burger by any means, the nice atmosphere and friendly cashier made the experience quite enjoyable.
Chuck's - 3.5 stars out of 5
Order: Chipotle & Cheddar ($14.00)
The gourmet burger bar features different kinds of meat with intricate chef-inspired toppings. The Chipotle & Cheddar is an angus beef burger stuffed with chipotle peppers and cheddar, and topped with Vindaloo mayo, Chipotle mustard, cucumber, sprouts & pea tenders. The Vindaloo gave the burger dimension, but ultimately, the beef wasn’t as good as it had been in my previous visits. Overall, the surprising combination of vegetables mixed with a little bit of a sweet-spicy tang to it made it worth the while.
The Works - 4.5 stars out of 5
Order: Hot Magma ($14.90)
Despite being a chain, The Works has the charm of a local staple. The Jackson Square location boasts a temporary menu, here until Oct. 5. The menu called “Get Stuff ’d” features a variety of stuffed burgers including “Hot Magma” with jalapeños, banana peppers, and chipotle stuffed inside a beef burger topped with cream cheese, banana peppers, green onions, sriracha mayo, and an onion ring. The spicy kick isn’t overwhelming and everything in this burger is just perfect.
Pinks - 3.5 stars out 5
Order: Double cheeseburger with double cheese ($8.50)
When Pinks opened last year, it quickly became a Mac staple due to its proximity to campus and
its diner vibe. While the burger was cooked well, with the cheese between the patties melted to gooey perfection, the burger overall lacked a punch. Pink sauce (thankfully not actually pink), is a nice touch, but its subtle flavour is easily overwhelmed if your burger also has toppings with strong flavours like jalapenos.
