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| - The Background:
Full disclosure, I'm a Bridgelandian (some are Bridgelanders... but I'm a Bridgelandian - they're much more hip) and always like to support businesses in the neighbourhood.. self proclaimed 'Chef Mario' has been around in various guises for a number of years... The first try I recall was Pimento Pizza in the (what was then) new strip mall thing on 1st avenue beside the Starbucks... and later he moved to the building that's now Burger 320 and tried again... it just didn't work. The pizza was decent but you couldn't order ahead, you had to pay with cash, they didn't deliver, there was no seating... and there are half a dozen other places you can get pizza in Bridgeland. End result was that Mario's pizza shop was almost always empty.
The Resurrection(!!):
I clearly remember my 'first time'... at Burger 320. It was probably March 2014(?)... I was driving home and I saw the new sign... I thought "what the heck... let's see what Mario's up to with the new place..." didn't have to wait... just walked in, ordered a 'Wickens' burger - cheeze burger, bacon, RHUBARB relish (that's crazy good!) and I substituded some blue cheeze for the cheddar... I wanted to cry. I literally dreamt of burgers that night. I went back a few days later and told Mario that he had a serious problem... once word got out he would not be able to keep up...
...sure enough, over the summer it was tough... lined up every day, lunch mission impossible... I'm hopeful though that at least over winter I might get a burger!
Things to note:
- it's cash only(!) - but there's a bank machine at 7-11 next door
- there's NO seating - it's take away only/eat at the pic nic tables outside
- cooking takes a while - if there are 6 or 8 in front of you, expect it take 20+ min for your order
- it's not just burgers - the fries are good, the fried mushrooms will kill you but they're awesome
- It's not just about meat - I mistakenly ordered a vegetarian mushroom burger and it was fantastic
- it's NOT McDonalds pricing - maybe a little expensive for a 'fast food' burger but you get a 'Happy Meal' every time ;-)
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