GOLDEN STAR BURGERS

Golden Star Burgers on Yonge, north of Steeles has been attracting The Hubby’s attention for years. Each time we drive why, he scopes out the number of cars in the parking lot and we debate on whether or not to try it out. The Hubby loves a good charcoal grilled burger and the craving hits me as well occasionally. We finally stopped by Golden Star this summer, hoping to find a new burger spot close to home.

Atmosphere: At first glance, the restaurant reminded me a lot of T Bones in Scarborough. With classic red diner booths, and dated tiles, Golden Star seemed a little bit stuck in time. The quick service restaurant was fairly busy with a steady stream of dinner customers. Orders were placed and paid for at the counter, then you shuffled along to watch the burgers cook and be assembled.

Service: The dining area was self serve with a station for napkins and other condiments. While cooking the burger, there were some options to customize toppings like onions or pickles. The restaurant was cash only, and did have an ATM inside.

Food: Between the two of us, we ordered an All-Star Burger, Steak on a Kaiser, Onion Rings and Poutine. Hands down, the Burger and Poutine were the best choices. The patty was juicy, tender, meaty with a nice char flavour from the grill. I did find the mayo a bit heavy handed. Everything else was solid from the fluffy ben to the melted slice of cheese. The same could not be said for the sad Steak on a Kaiser. I’m not sure what we were expecting for $8 but the thin steak was easily overpowered by the large bun. It was tender, but under seasoned for our taste buds and overall disappointing.

As for the sides, I had a very good time with the poutine, which was a huge portion. A smaller size menu option would be nice, not for but for other people. I personally inhaled the thick gravy and melted curds. There were fewer onion rings in that basket, but was also a few dollars cheaper than the poutine. The onion rings were crispy, not oily and a good thickness. I’ve never been a fan of super thick ones, so these were solid.

Overall, Golden Star Burgers served up a solid burger and sides at a reasonable price. Their full dining room and longevity attests to both their quality and value.