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| - My experience with PB is like a Justin and Selena romance. I'll try you out, leave you and re-kindle our relationship after a year.
On January, 25th 2016, I vowed never to re-visit Pickle Barrel again. This time, it was inevitable. My friend, Ms. S, turned a quarter century and insisted on dining here. I hinted to look elsewhere. I pleaded. I begged. I showed her my last review. But to no avail.
So here's my honest opinion.
The food arrives: Nachos. Mushroom Swiss Burger. A Sapporo. Three food items that should not disappoint. I wish that was true. The PB famous nachos are consistent with what you would imagine. I liked it because the Jalapenos gave kick start to my appetite.
Then comes the burger. I was really confused. Did someone drop the burger? It looked nothing like its picture. Check out my photo and you be the judge. But I'm not here to critique the appearance of a CAD 13.99 burger. I'm here to scrutinize flavours, texture and consistency.
Here's what I liked. Condiments and sauces muddled together in good harmony. Everything "melted" well together. The bread was toasted and kept its shape through the 7 minutes it took me to consume its entirety. I appreciate the real cheese they use and not those ones that come in plastic wrap The quantity of meat to everything else was fair.
Here's what I didn't like. The beef patties need a bit more salt. I had to put a conscious effort to make out the beefy notes of the patty. And after I did, I conclude it comprised of low quality beef. It tasted like store bought ground beef and not a blend of Chuck or sirloin. The beef was not succulent. Luckily, the sauce and excess grease disguised the Sahara desert-like beef patties. The burger also needed some tartness to balance out the super savoury sauces. I added ketchup on my own. It blows my mind that ketchup isn't a requirement in restaurant burgers. Acidity is your friend.
Overall, the burger was not bad. I just hold Pickel Barrel to a higher standard. Burgers are not hard to make and I feet like PB dropped the ball on this one. Also, honourable mention to the sides. They were just freaking awesome.
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On another note, I commend Christina, our server. She was spectacular. I have yet to experience better customer service. Friendly, bubbly, and full of warmth. Her ability to connect with everyone is magnificent. She loves what she does and it shows. What truly stood out is she made sure everyone was happy with their experience and took the time to understand everyone. Thank you, Christina!
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To end my lengthy review, here's my conclusion.
I truly encourage all the execs at CARA to sit down and have a burger at PB. Nonetheless, I wouldn't buy what I wouldn't eat. PB has great potential but lacks the WOW factor for critics like myself. PB is such an iconic brand but will be overshadowed by the big American competitor next door.
For now, I have no intentions to return.
All the Best
David L.
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