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| - I've been visiting friends who live in Kensington for years, and have seen this restaurant change hands again and again during that time, but have never gone in. The friends recommended I check it out for their burger ("Pricey but damn good") so I went by with my partner in crime to do just that.
Service was a bit shaky to start - it was a Sunday night and hockey had just restarted, and attentions were diverted, I think. After five minutes of waiting to be acknowledged I stomped to the bar to get menus myself. Things picked up after that, thankfully.
We did indeed get burgers - they're monstrous, and a bit awkward to eat so don't go here on a date, but they were really really excellent. The pretzel bun is a nice touch that doesn't get soggy, and the add ins were not sad last minute throw ins - they were fresh onion rings and house pickled beets and done really well. (Although slicing the beets might make it a bit easier to eat...)
The best was the pickle though. When I saw it on the menu as a side option I thought "how good could they be?" My grandparents were Polish and Ukrainian and trust me, I've seen a pickle or two in my day. This pickle is unique. It's a bit spicy, it's tangy, it's crisp, it's all the things a pickle should be on a burger. Fantastic. So good, we insisted on buying some to bring home, and the chef indulged us by selling us a container full of the perfect pickles.
He told us they are moving towards making everything they can in-house by this summer, which is a reason I think I will finally move this awkward corner location somewhat standard looking bar up on to my eating list when I visit my Calgary friends.
Here's to hoping they start deep frying those pickles soon...
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