Five Guys Burgers and Fries

If you want a good quality burger without firing up the grill, drop by the Five Guys Burgers and Fries.  The first thing you will notice when you enter the doors are bags of peanuts piled knee high and are a added bonus for those hungrily waiting for their orders.  Already you can tell that this was a casual and relaxed environment. Judging from the traffic that was going in and out of this restaurant, it could have only meant one thing… great food.  This isn't your regular fast food burger joint.  The patties are not frozen and only put on the grill after each order, ensuring that each burger was served fresh and not sitting on the grill to dry out for the next order.  I had the bacon cheese burger and you have your choice of about a dozen or so free toppings. The burger was juicy and had great flavour, the fresh grilled mushrooms and onions were a great complement. We added Cajun fries and they were spicy, tasty and plentiful. They really don't skimp out on anything around here, it was as if they were trying to get rid of all their toppings in our two burgers. All in all, this is a great place for lunch or dinner and a much more satisfying alternative to your average fast food burger. 

  

http://www.fiveguys.com/home.aspx

CHARCUT Roast House

 After watching Connie DeSousa, one of the Co-Executive chefs and Co-Owners of CHARCUT Roast House compete in "Top Chef Canada" I was determined to try some of her rustic culinary creations.

I must admit I had high expectations heading into the restaurant.  When we walked in we saw that it was a full house, having made reservations we were greeted at the door and seated right away.  The restaurant was well staffed and the timing of each dish that came out was perfect. Our waitress checked on us regularly and I never felt there was any impact on the service regardless of how busy it was.  The venue had a very modern and relaxed atmosphere that catered to a wide range of clientele.  We were seated next to a family with kids and across from us looked to be a girl’s night out dinner.

There was good selection on the menu but I knew I had to experience some of the dishes that were prepared for the judges in the Top Chef competition.  I knew if it was good enough to impress the judges it’s definitely going to impress me…and I was right about that one!  I would highly recommend trying the share burger, it’s tender with lots of flavor, and the saltiness of the meat accentuated the fried egg and the bun perfectly. I rarely order burgers at restaurants but once you take your first bite you’ll know what I’m raving about.

Summery

The food was delicious and the service was excellent.  I would recommend CHARCUT in a heartbeat; just make sure to make reservations so you are not left waiting.  The chefs embrace a passion for the food they serve and for their fans.  We ended the night with a picture and a signed menu from Connie herself.  This turned out to be a terrific dining experience.  I think this might have just made my top 10 favorites.

http://www.charcut.com/
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