We’re tired of too many people in Toronto assuming it’s cool to just slap a patty between two sides of a bun and call it a hamburger. That might have flown a hundred years ago when we were always late because our horse was breaking down, but nowadays we can’t understand when a restaurant isn’t willing to give the burger the time and attention it deserves. There’s art to be found in that there meat, damn it! Which is why we’re always happy when a restaurant opens up that not only keeps up with the continual evolution of the ultimate American dish, but also adds to its development as well.
TOMA – Burger Addiction (712 Queen Street W) is Queen West’s latest joint to build its foundation on burgers, and these guys are staking a claim for the best meat in the city in a hurry. Run by an absolutely delightful couple from Montpellier, France, TOMA offers a wonderful selection of burgers at very reasonable prices – all of which are delivered on fresh brioche buns made in-house daily.
For instance, if you’re doing a walk-by, you can always pick up an Angus Beef Cheeseburger (topped with homemade ketchup) for just $6.99 – that’s basically unheard of outside of the McDonalds drive-thru. But it’s when you sit down and look at the menu that you realize how spoiled you’re about to be. The Perfect Wedding is an aptly named masterpiece that blends Angus beef, Spanish chorizo, pear and Gorgonzola compote, sprouts, caramelized onions, and walnuts into an eruption of mouthwatering flavour that may include you weeping tears of joy at the end. The Wild Life is as strong and fresh as it sounds, filled with Angus beef, Swiss cheese, mushroom compote, double smoked bacon, truffle mayo, arugula, and a balsamic glaze. We suggest wearing a lumberjack vest for this one.
TOMA’s commitment to the burger is genuine. So when they put a $20 burger in front of you, you’re not going to have to wonder about the price. The Fabulous Las Vegas is a Kobe beef patty topped with Brie cheese, truffle mayo, caramelized onions, sprouts, truffle olive oil, and fleur de sel. That’s two kinds of truffle for those of you keeping track. Still not enough for you? Well, TOMA will be happy to slap some pan-fried foie gras on there for you too if that’s what’ll get you to your special place. Not to mention you can always add to your feast by bringing some truffle French fries, poutine, or mac n’ cheese into the mix.
With all this eating going on you’re probably going to get a little thirsty. Luckily, the owners, as we pointed out earlier, are French. This means you’ve got a hefty wine list and a slew of homemade cocktail options at your service. We suggest you try out the house-made Sangria or dip into a spiced pear mojito to make your experience even more sublime.
Like we said, you’ve got to do something a little special to earn our number in the burger business these days. But after our experience at TOMA today, they’re pretty much on speed dial.
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