Introducing: Wahlburgers, the new Toronto outpost of Mark, Donnie and Paul Wahlberg’s Boston burger shop
(Image: Renée Suen)
Name: Wahlburgers
Contact Info: 46 Blue Jays Way, 416-489-8922, wahlburgers.ca , @WahlburgersCA
Neighbourhood: Entertainment District
Owners: The Wahlberg brothers (Mark, Donnie and Paul), Starwood Group president Bruce Greenbeerg, Metropolitan Hotels president Henry Wu and Difference Capital executive chairman Michael Wekerle.
Chefs: Executive chef Paul Wahlberg and head chef Vincent Leung, who’s also the chef de cuisine at Luckee next door
The Food: Beef and turkey patties are grilled-to-order and piled high with veggies, bacon strips and condiments (including chef Paul’s secret-recipe “Wahl sauce,” which is pretty similar to Thousand Island.) Non-burger options include hot dogs, salads, grilled cheeses and a seared-chicken sandwich named after Donnie’s wife Jenny McCarthy.
The Drinks: Wine, beer and “Wahlcoctions” (i.e. cocktails). The Wahlbrewski North IPA was brewed for the restaurant by Mill St. Brewery.
The Place: The restaurant is covered in branded murals and flat-screen TVs, some of which play episodes of Wahlbergers (the chain’s behind-the-scenes TV series) on a loop. The two-storey space is divided into several sections, including a full-service dining area, a sports bar and a casual grab-and-go counter.
299062 <b>Wahlburgers</b> is housed in the <b>Soho Metropolitan Hotel</b> on Blue Jays Way. (It’s next door to <b>Susur Lee’</b>s restaurant <b>Luckee.</b> (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Wahlburgers https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-16-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-16.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-16/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-16 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
299063 Flat-screen TVs play Toronto or Boston games, or episodes of the trio’s A&E reality series <em>Wahlburgers.</em> https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-15-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-15.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-15/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-15 0 0
299067 “Our family. Our story. Our burgers.” https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-11-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-11/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-11 0 0
299065 This is a lightbox collage of various projects the Wahlbergs have worked on. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-13-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-13.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-13/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-13 0 0
299066 And here are some quotes about how much those guys love Toronto. Aw. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-12-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-12/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-12 0 0
299068 Chef <b>Vincent Leung</b> oversees the Toronto Wahlburgers operation. He’s also the chef de cuisine at next-door restaurant <b>Luckee.</b> https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-10-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-10/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-10 0 0
299069 The Our Burger (also referred to as "Paul's Choice") is a simple beef patty topped with cheese, dill pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion and Wahl sauce ($9.25). It’s pictured here with a side of sweet-potato tots ($3.50) and the Funky Monkey, a boozy milkshake made with strawberry ice cream and vodka ($15). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-09-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-09/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-09 0 0
299070 The Thanksgiving Burger (“Mark’s Choice”) is a turkey burger topped with orange-cranberry sauce, stuffing and roasted butternut squash ($10). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-08-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-08/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-08 0 0
299071 “Donnie’s Choice” is a bacon burger topped with white cheddar, avocado, jalapeños and barbecue sauce ($10). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-07-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-07/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-07 0 0
299072 The macaroni salad is based on a recipe from the Walhbergs’ mother, Alma ($7, or $4.50 as a side). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-06-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-06/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-06 0 0
299073 Spinach salad with bacon, apples and gorgonzola ($8). For an extra $4, it can be topped with beef, chicken, haddock or a turkey burger. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-05-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-05/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-05 0 0
299074 Chicken fingers and fries, from the kids’ menu ($8). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-04-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-04/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-04 0 0
299077 The Walbrewski North is an IPA brewed by Mill St. Brewery ($7 per pint). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-01-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-01/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-01 0 0
299076 One of several “Wahlcoctions.” This one’s called the Dropped Eggs on Toast—a blend of gin, orange liquor, lemon juice and egg white ($12). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-02-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-02/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-02 0 0
299064 Wahlmerch. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-14-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-14.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants/slide/wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-14/ wahlburgers-toronto-restaurants-14 0 0
Finally Daily Dish is paying some attention to restaurants West of Yonge Street.
Can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic, but almost everything in The Dish is west of Yonge Street.
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