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The Best Burgers in Montreal (You’ve Never Heard Of) | Must-Eats

A delicious Dilallo Burger

When approaching the tedious task of determining our favourite hamburger restaurants in a gastronomically rich city likeMontreal, it would actually have been easy to go with the mainstream menu. That’s because the usual popularlineup, composed of favourites like Five Guys, or the posh, alphabetically-inclined M:Brgr and iBurger, in the downtowncore are indeed, absolutely delicious. No argument there. From sliders to sesame seeds, we could have served you thesame old and you foodies would have been in lip-smacking paradise. That said, this humble burger blogger feels there’smore to a burger joint than just the usual hype, even if the menu does have the beef to back it up. I’m by no means aconnaisseur(euse), but when I look for Montreal’s perfect burger, I seek out a slightly different feeling. Something lessgourmet and more greasy, maybe. Less truffles and more muscle, from the guy behind the counter who’s been flipping hisperfect patties for thirty years. You know, something a little more…. messy. With history, flavour and maybe even acouple of quirks. That said, my standards might not be everyone’s cup of mustard, but the following hamburger havens aremust-try’s in my opinion, for those seeking a “bun-afide” burger experience, Montreal-style.

Dilallo Burger

(Their burger is the featured image of this post, that’s how much I love them!) My family have been loyal patrons of Dilallo’s

for generations, and I can easily say that they are my undisputed favourite in the city. Aside from the admitted bias createdby countless fond childhood visits to its Notre-Dame and Charlevoix location on the border between Griffintown and St-Henri, I can easily see why Dilallo’s been around since 1929 and still going strong. They’ve perfected their burger andstuck with it, unchanged, for almost a century. The upside-down bun is steamed, making it delightfully moist and tender,and their beef is tender beyond any others I’ve tried. I’m not sure what it is they do to it (my imaginings have insinuatedsome sort of witchcraft, but I digress) but the meat is tenderized, seasoned and portioned to perfection (I personally prefermodest-sized patties). Along with a simple accompaniment of cheese, lettuce and tomato, no bells and whistles, it’s theperfect bite. That’s why I never order anything else from them but a simple cheeseburger… and I’m never disappointed.Indeed, they’ve made it all about the burger; the decor is a vision of old-fashioned diner (at that location in particular), nostrings attached, though a painted mural of the place makes it quaint enough. Their Ville-Émard headquarters however, isa sporting-hall of fame of sorts but still has that old-school diner feel, which I personally adore. Give them a bite, you won’tbe sorry and neither will your wallet: you can get away with what I think is Montreal’s best burger for about ten bucks.

Mr. Steer

Classic Mr. Steer burger plate (photo: urbanspoon)

Located in a formerly gritty part of the Downtown stretch, Mr. Steer has been around since the 1950’s. It was a small dinerin its beginnings, and unofficially, a spot to wind-down after a night on the town. It still retains inadvertent vestiges of itspost-party use: you’ll find it right next to one of Montreal’s most popular strip clubs. But don’t let that deter you: Mr. Steerwon’t steer you wrong, and it’s definitely a place for family dining at its most delicious. Though this Montreal institutionrecently went through a long-awaited renovation, it still retains its dineresque feel, and most importantly, serves a burgerwhich has remained pretty much unchanged since the opening. The use of kosher beef, fresh ingredients and its ownsecret seasoning make the Steerburger the award-winning delight that it is, and I would argue that this place even hassome of the best fries I’ve had, if you like the Suzie-Q style cut. Complete the experience (if you still have room) with oneof their old-school shakes, and you’ll understand why I visit whenever I happen to be downtown.

Burger Royal

Burger Royal on St Laurent (photo: montreal.tv)

While Dilallo and Mr. Steer feed my appetite for vintage Montreal diner-style fare, Burger Royal is a relatively new spot onSt-Laurent near Roy (in the Plateau Neighborhood) which nevertheless feels like it’s been ponying up patties for decades. This place favours ethically-sourced ingredients (all their beef and chicken is local and antibiotic-free, and all veggies arelocally-sourced and bio as well) and is a pro at the whole burger experience. A perfect place for the persnickety patron;ALL elements of your burger are customizable, from bun to cheese to sauce. The house also offers a few signaturecombos of its own creation, which are always mouth-watering (I’ve almost tried them all, at this point). What really pulls itall together however, is Royal’s attention to detail. Everything from the crispy fries, served with an incredible selection ofsauces (I recommend the spicy mayo), to the glass-bottled soda pop, to the 50’s style milkshakes (for which you can even

select your preference of “cereal milk”: milk flavoured by cereal you drank from the bowl as a kid), to the woodsy decor ofthe small, quiet place, caters to a dining experience that will make you fall in love with responsible and delicious burger-eating. Delightfully hip yet unpretentious, with a personalized burger that says as much about the restaurant as it doesabout its patrons, I really do kneel to Burger Royal as one of Montreal’s best.

Honorable mentions:

Centrale Bergham: Their motto is certainly fitting, as this truly is the evolution of the burger. Their refreshinglydifferent and delicious halal “sandwich style” burger is a local favourite. Not one bad review in sight and the varietyof the menu is only topped by how ridiculously delicious every single item is. Check them out in the New Rosemontarea!

Central Bergham-style burger (photo: restomontreal)

Griffintown Café: While not specialized in burgers per se, this little gem on Notre-Dame street in the GriffintownNeighbourhood serves a gourmet burger worthy of a bite: it’s a delightful mix of lamb, duck and beef, served withGruyère cheese on a tender roll, along with sliced potato wedges and a mixed green salad. The nouveau antiquedecor in a beautiful old building also adds to the overall experience. Definitely worth a stop!

A burger plate from Griffintown Café

Now that you’ve had a morsel of what the city has to offer, be sure to check outMontreal’s great and gastronomical neighbourhoods!

What are your suggestions in terms of the best burgers in Montreal? We want to know (and try it, most importantly!).Share your picks with us in the comments below, and tell us what you think about ours.