Pljeskavica at Kafana

I had supper at Kafana last week before a meeting in the area, and ordered the Pljeskavica - it's a HUGE hamburger served on top of a bed of fries, with a piece of bun on the side. This is apparently the traditional Balkan way to serve a burger, as opposed to the Balkan Burger on the menu, which is also huge but served with garnishes like ketchup and mustard. I love how the flavour of the meat took centre of the dish, while the beefsteak fries were seasoned and a delight.

The Act Burger

Act Burger #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I finally made it to The Next Act Pub on a busy Saturday evening for a burger. The basic Act Burger was all I was after - a huge, thick, juicy patty that is grilled to perfection on a brioche bun with mayo and "groceries." It is more than a burger - it is an experience. The burger has a very unique flavour, enhanced with seasonings but never overpowered.

And the fries - oh, the fries. The fresh cut, thin, house-made fries. If I was not so hungry, I would never have made it through the plate.

Hamburger at Hotel Selkirk

Hamburger, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I went for the burger on the lunch menu at the Johnson Cafe. First of all, you will notice my plate looks rather empty. That is because, even though we ordered our soups to start, the server interpreted that we wanted our soup as our sides. Otherwise, the burger would have come with fries. This was not a big deal, as I am trying to watch both my waistline and my budget.

The burger meat was AAA Alberta beef and it was dense, cooked to perfection, and very flavourful. I could have lived without the cheese bun - I ordered no cheese on my soup or burger, so the fact that I was not told about this in advance came as much as a surprise as the cheese bun itself. Who serves a burger on a cheese bun?

I would suggest that the Johnson Cafe be more specific in their menu descriptions. In this day of allergies being prolific, it would be helpful to both customers and the servers trying to help them.

Breakfast for Lunch: Hamburger Steak and Eggs

Hamburger Steak and Eggs, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

The Kingsway location of Humpty's (101 Street and 108 Avenue) is one of the few places in the McCauley neighbourhood where I can get breakfast food. So, growing hungry after a morning shoot, I headed there for my late breakfast/early lunch.

I ordered the Hamburger Steak and Eggs, which is a large hamburger grilled to perfection topped with red onions (also grilled) and a tomato (I held the parmesan), as well as two eggs, potatoes, and toast. It was a heavy, protein-rich meal.

Humpty's is also one of the few chain restaurants in the area. I prefer mom and pop shops, but when I want my eggs in the inner city, this is the place I head.