Food & Drink

Introducing: The Works on the Danforth, the first Toronto location of the cult fave Ottawa burger chain

Introducing: The Works on the Danforth, the first Toronto location of the cult fave Ottawa burger chain

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Danforth franchisee Zaki Zahur with CEO, president and chief burgerhead Andy O’Brien (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)

After 10 years in the burger biz, The Works has finally made it to Toronto. Hailing from the nation’s capital, the award-winning chain with an impassioned following is now set to give the city’s million other burger joints a run for their money. The Danforth spot is the first on the map, with other Hogtown locations already in the works (no pun intended). We met up with Danforth franchisee Zaki Zahur and CEO and “chief burgerhead” Andy O’Brien to get the scoop on the eatery and its 70 burgers.

Perched on the corner of Danforth and Dewhurst, the restaurant features a two-tiered layout with a sort of urban factory feel. Up front, garage doors create an insta-patio, while inside, brick and wood are paired with exposed pipes and industrial lighting. A Bloor Street Viaduct mural is a nod to the area, while a refreshing lack of TVs encourages chatter. The soundtrack—whose fine tuning O’Brien tells us involves a crew sitting down with some beers—features classic rock ’n’ roll and blues picks.

Each location’s menu is meant to “reflect the fabric of the city,” O’Brien says, with the Toronto version featuring some picks named after local figures: Ben Mulroney dubbed his the Benny Piggenbeef, while Kenny Hotz got particularly creative, settling on the Kenny. The lengthy menu may intimidate some, but we’re assured that staff will gladly do a walk-through. First and foremost, diners select a patty; options include pure ground beef, ground turkey, veggie and domestic elk. Zahur says, “We treat the beef patties like steaks, cooking them to 160 degrees over an open flame and leaving a trace of pink.” After the bun is chosen, it’s time to sort through the 70 toppings, a process that can also benefit from a little server help. The Taste of the Danforth—MPP Peter Tabuns’ number one pick—stars fresh tomato, red onion, tzatziki sauce and oregano ($12.68); the Three Ring Binder features sautéed field mushrooms, chipotle mayo and Gouda, and is topped with three onion rings ($13.96). Sadly, the Stanley Cup Burger, as it’s rather smugly noted, has not been available in the GTA for 45 years.

The Works, 888 Danforth Ave., 647-748-4455, worksburger.com, @WORKSBURGER

Topics: Ben Mulroney burgers Kenny Hotz New Restaurants Openings Restaurants The Works Toronto

15 thoughts on “Introducing: The Works on the Danforth, the first Toronto location of the cult fave Ottawa burger chain”

  1. Sorry, I didn’t find the burgers particularly good for the price. The onion rings and fries were not bad. I also abhor drinking anything out of a measuring cup. I won’t return, no second chances from me.

  3. Toronto is saturated with fast-food burger, pizza annd chicken joints. Is this the reason why Toronto Life devotes so much space to fast food restaurants?

  4. The best burger I ever had was with peanut butter. This place sounds like a home run.

  5. If this location is anything like their initial GTA foray in downtown Oakville, it will be the furthest thing from a home run – a definite strike out. Terrible service, poor value, a borderline incomprehensible menu that takes forever to get through (way, way, WAY too many options in the form of excrutiating permutations and combinations of random toppings, which, painfully, does not simply allow me to choose my own toppings). Be prepared to settle because you will simply get tired of reading. The warning the servers provide as you sit down is unique – they caution that your meal, from the time you order, will take at least 20 minutes. I should have taken this to mean that my burger would be overcooked. Shocker! It was. And measuring cups for all beverages? Stop trying so hard.

  6. I’m a regular at the Guelph (and occasionally Ottawa) works. I love them. I eat at Guelph’s Works every week. I was in Toronto and happened to be staying near this one, so I was stoked to grab a good burg. What a disappointment when it sucked! I don’t know if it’s a staffing or management problem, but the burgers took too long, were overcooked (like briquette overcooked, a shocker since every other works serves them nice and pink), and the servers were rude and unable to answer our questions (I shouldn’t know more than you about the restaurant you work at!). Hopefully they put it all together. Oh well, at least the shakes were good.

  7. I just ate at the London location and it was delicious!!! I was highly impressed. I’m moving to Toronto soon and am disappointed to hear most people weren’t too impressed. Hopefully at least one of the Toronto locations is delicious.

  8. I am pretty shocked to read all of these reviews! I have gone to the works on the danforth, plenty of times, and have loved it! the servers there are really helpful and fun. the burgers were mouthwatering! loved it! :)

  9. I went. I ate. I liked it. Fun vibe, crazy huge menu (let your server help you here) and for yet another burger joint, it hits the mark. I was surprised to read the negatives here.
    I thought the milkshakes in the measuring cups were very cute and they tasted great. If you “abhor drinking out of a measuring cup” then this kind of joint probably wasn’t ever going to be to your liking.

  10. wait is way too long and bugers are good when they cook them right all and all i`ll stay away from the danforth location just good for take-out

  11. Drinking out of a measuring cup is not for civilized people. What’s next …gasoline cannisters?…garden watering cans?…fish bowls?

    The thought behind this menu is equally puzzling. Random combinations of flavors…what kind of people like this food?

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